On 30 June, His Excellency Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, the President of the Republic, sent a message of congratulations to His Excellency Mr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the President of the Republic of Somalia, on the occasion of the celebration by his country of its National Day. In this message, His Excellency affirmed Mauritania’s desire to develop and strengthen relations of friendship and cooperation with the sisterly Republic of Somalia. The message reads as follows: “Mr. President and Dear Brother, On the occasion of the celebration by your country of its National Day, it is my pleasure to extend to Your Excellency my warmest congratulations, wishing the brotherly people of Somalia further progress and prosperity. I also renew our desire to work with You to strengthen and develop the existing cooperative relations between our two countries to serve the interests of our two brotherly people. Please accept, Excellency and Dear Brother, the assurances of my highest consideration. Your brother: Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghaazouani»