German Foreign Minister Wadephul makes first visit to Mauritania in nearly 20 years, pledges partnership

Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) in Nouakchott. Source: Soeren Stache/dpa

Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) met his Mauritanian counterpart in Nouakchott on Monday, becoming the first German foreign minister to visit the desert state in nearly 20 years. During the visit, Wadephul announced that Germany aims to be an "important, reliable, and stable partner" in the region going forward.

A Pattern of Notable Travels

Wadephul has developed a reputation for visiting significant locations at pivotal moments:

• Late last month: He flew to Paraguay for a South American summit — the first German foreign minister to visit the country in over 30 years — coincidentally on the night of Germany's World Cup defeat.
• This week: His departure for Mauritania came while his own party faces turmoil at home following Jens Spahn's resignation, with a government reshuffle reportedly under consideration.

Despite domestic political challenges, Wadephul's position appears secure, and the long-planned trip to Mauritania carries strategic weight.

Mauritania: A Rare Anchor of Stability

The desert state on West Africa's coast stands out as an exception in a region increasingly marked by conflict, terrorism, and the presence of Russian mercenaries.

Regional context:

• Military seizures of power have occurred in four of the seven Sahel states in recent years: Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Sudan.
• Chad is also considered authoritarian.
• Mauritania and Senegal remain the only democracies in the group.
• The Sahel alliance, once headquartered in Nouakchott, has collapsed.
• China, Russia, and Turkey are gaining influence in the region.

The fragility of the security situation was underscored over the weekend in neighboring Mali, where jihadists and Tuareg separatists attacked a military convoy, killing over 50 soldiers in the bloodiest attack in 15 years.

Mali is the country where the Bundeswehr was deployed as part of a UN mission until just under three years ago, before the military junta expelled international troops and turned to Vladimir Putin's Africa Corps. Berlin and Brussels now fear that violence and instability could spread further, bringing consequences such as terrorism and migration that could affect Europe.

Germany's Commitment and Mauritania's Requests

Federal Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (l., CDU) and his Mauritanian counterpart Mohamed Merzoug (r.) at a press conference. Source: Soeren Stache/dpa

"The effects of the chronic crisis in the central Sahel have long since reached the coastal states," Wadephul warned at a press conference alongside his Mauritanian counterpart Mohamed Merzoug. "Terrorism, violence, and instability threaten to spread further."

Germany intends to support Mauritania more strongly in its role as an "important, reliable, and stable partner," particularly in refugee aid. Mauritania, a country of 5 million people, has taken in approximately 320,000 refugees from Mali. Through UN funds and German development aid, Berlin aims to ensure that "the host communities are not left in the lurch."

Merzoug presented a list of additional requests for Germany:

• Security and defense: The Bundeswehr could assist with training the Mauritanian army.
• Infrastructure and renewable energies: Beyond raw materials, Mauritania is a potential future supplier of green hydrogen for Germany.

"There is a new upswing in relations," Merzoug said. However, it was negatively noted that...