Foreign Minister Chairs 13th Meeting of Special Envoys for Sahel
On 24 October, in Nouakchott, Mr. Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, and Mauritanians Abroad, accompanied by the Minister of National Defense, Mr. Hanena Ould Sidi, supervised the opening of the 13th meeting of special envoys for the Sahel region.
This meeting aims to study the situation in the Sahel in terms of security and development, examine the problems facing the region, and seek appropriate solutions to them.
In his speech on this occasion, Mr. Ould Merzoug highlighted the importance of this meeting because it takes place in a sensitive and complex situation at all levels, calling for support for the efforts made by His Excellency Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, the President of the Republic, the President in Office of the G-5 Sahel, in order to strengthen collective action and address the challenges facing the region at all levels.
He stressed that this action, declined into a strategy, aims to achieve the conditions for development and security, improve the living conditions of populations, and support democracy and good governance within the framework of regional and international cooperation for everyone’s benefit.
Mr. Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug welcomed the support of the European Union to the Sahel region, within the framework of the multidimensional partnership aimed at strengthening security and stability, hoping for increased support and effective monitoring of the road map inits four axes.He stressed that our country would remain open to serious dialogue, responsible discussion and encourage understanding between all parties. He stressed that this is the only approach capable of realizing the region’s aspirations for comprehensive and sustainable development ina context of security and stability.
For her part, Ms. Angeles Moreno Bau, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Spain, expressed her sincere thanks to the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and National Defense and all other parties participating in this meeting, stressing that
the entire Sahel group looks forward to protecting the population of the Sahel.
She said that due to the multiplication of challenges in the region, it has become necessary to think differently and intervene more effectively to be able to deal with the situation in the Sahel, which is developing at an accelerated pace.
Ms. Bau indicated that the organization of this conference in cooperation with the Mauritanian government aims to discuss a more appropriate approach to deal with the various security and economic problems facing the populations of the Sahel.
In turn, Ms. Emanuela Claudia Del Re, the Special Representative of the European Union in the Sahel, explained that the challenges in the Sahel are extremely complex, and for this reason the different countries of the European Union are committed to following
the pace of the efforts of the governments of the Sahel countries, in addition to other partners. She added that an assessment of the European Union’s strategy in the region shows that results still fall short of expectations, particularly in terms of governance.