Symposium on Outcome of Mauritanian Presidency of G-5 Sahel

The Minister of Economic Affairs and the Promotion of Productive Sectors, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, and Mauritanians Abroad, Mr. Ousmane Mamoudou Kane, supervised, Saturday in Nouakchott, the opening of a symposium on the results of the Mauritanian presidency of the G-5 Sahel.

The one-day symposium aims to assess the results of the Mauritanian presidency of the Group during the year 2020.

In his opening speech, the Minister of Economic Affairs stressed that the Sahel zone faces major challenges relating to the imperative of security and stability but also to the requirements of economic development and social issues. The response to such challenges must be collective, as he put it.

Therefore, the G-5 Sahel countries are condemned to join their efforts and to use their resources judiciously to achieve development strategies and win their fight against violent terrorism, according to the Minister.

He added that Mauritania acted, during its presidency of the G-5 Sahel during the year 2020, to strengthen security in the sub-region hosting numerous meetings at all levels (summits, ministerial conferences, and expert meetings).

Mr. Ousmane Mamoudou Kane added that despite the difficulties resulting from the context of COVID-19, and its economic and social implications, achievements have been recorded with satisfaction, explaining that these achievements need to be consolidated through the continued support of the the international community.

For his part, the acting permanent secretary of the G-5 Sahel, Mr. Mohamed Znagui Ould Sid Ahmed Ely, hailed the results achieved; paid tribute to all the players, but also drew lessons for both the Organization and Mauritania in preparation for future deadlines.

The permanent secretary indicated that the Mauritanian Presidency of the G-5 Sahel intervened in the context of a health situation marked by the COVID-19 crisis which hit the country in the first quarter of 2020, upsetting the world and suspending all actions, initiatives, and interventions.

Nevertheless, the results of this Presidency were strongly welcomed by both G-5 Sahel officials and partners. Indeed, it covers major achievements including:

– The adoption of an integrated priority action framework (CAPI);

– The launch of the Coalition for the Sahel;

– The conclusion of the project to fight against Covid-19;

– The initiative for the cancellation of the debt of the Group’s countries;

– Support for Mali during the socio-political crisis which led to the ongoing transition, and

– Major advances in the field of security hailed by G-5 Sahel experts, the organization’s Council of Ministers, and the conference of Heads of State recently held in Chad.

He congratulated all the actors, at their forefront the President of the Republic, His Excellency Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, for his proactive leadership, but also the supervising ministers, the Presidency follow-up cell, and all other actors for the hard work they have put in to achieve these results.

The event was attended by the Acting Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ambassador Director of Bilateral Cooperation at the Ministry; his national defense counterpart; the legal adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, numerous diplomats, and representatives of the G-5 Sahel countries.