Interior Minister visits M’Berra Malian Refugee Camp in Bassiknou

The Minister of the Interior, Decentralization Promotion and Local Development, Mohamed Ahmed Ould Mohamed Lemine, accompanied by the Wali of the Hodh El Charghi, Mr. Isselmou Ould Sidi, and the Chief of Staff of the National Gendarmerie, Lieutenant General Abdallah Ould Ahmed Aicha, visited a number of health, educational and security facilities in the Malian refugee M’berra in the province of Bassiknou.

The visit, which included School No. 8, the health centre, the Malian Refugee Registration Centre and the National Gendarmerie base that secures the camp, aims to learn about the situation of the camp and to identify the problems and shortcomings suffered by the refugees.

During a meeting held after the visit, the Minister stressed that Mauritania welcomes refugees as guests in line with international norms and laws and good neighborliness, but practices contrary to this concept, such as engaging in local politics or sectarianism within Mauritanian territory, are unacceptable and may bring severe measures to the perpetrators, calling on refugees to discipline themselves and respect Mauritanian laws.

He added that H.E. President of the Republic Mohamed Ould Cheikh EL Ghazouani sent this delegation to review the health, education and security situation in the camp and to identify the issues and shortcomings in order to solve them as soon as possible in line with the promising security development approach.

He pointed out that the Republican School as an inclusive framework for comprehensive national unity is a project that will have a great contribution in instilling the values of the Republic and dissolving the differences between the components of our society, in implementation of the visionary and insightful vision of His Excellency the President of the Republic, Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani.

The Minister recalled the importance of preserving the vegetation cover from fires and uniting efforts between guests, hosts and development partners to preserve the environment and its health, adding that the public authorities are making strenuous efforts to fortify pastures from fires, and that achieving the desired goals depends on the concerted efforts of all.