Mauritania’s chairmanship of the African Union. Strategic Success in Addressing the Continent’s Issues

There is no doubt that His Excellency the President of the Republic, Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, has succeeded throughout his presidency of the African Union in addressing a number of strategic issues simultaneously, which has given the Organization a dynamic of reforms and ambitious initiatives.

He also accelerated discussions on UN Security Council reform, strongly advocating for the need for equitable representation of the African continent within this key body of global governance.

Under his chairmanship of the African Union, Africa formally joined the Group of Twenty, a historic turning point that cemented the continent’s role on the global economic stage.

At the summit in Brazil, Africa gained prestige through Mauritania, reflecting the continent’s commitment to playing a greater role in global decision-making.

In a spirit of rationalization and efficiency, the President encouraged better management of the resources of the African Union, which led to a significant reduction of $30 million in the Organization’s budget, in line with the institutional reform that had been undertaken.

With regard to the settlement of disputes, His Excellency the President of the Republic, Chairman of the African Union, supported and facilitated the rapprochement between the Nairobi and Luanda processes towards a lasting settlement of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, allowing for better coordination of mediation efforts.

Stabilization in Libya and Sudan has also been one of his diplomatic priorities, as he has actively supported African and UN initiatives to reunite the Libyan parties around a comprehensive peace process, highlighting the central role of the African Union in managing the Libyan issue. With regard to the Sudan, he called for more effective mediation and a stronger African role in the face of a major humanitarian and security crisis, calling for a permanent ceasefire and a political solution to the crisis.

President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani’s tenure was also marked by his strong commitment to the environment and combating the impacts of climate change, calling for increased climate finance in Africa and greater resilience for African countries. In this spirit, he supported the Great Green Wall Initiative, a crucial project to combat desertification and restore ecosystems in the Sahel region, while highlighting the need to increase investment in renewable energies and ecological transformation on the continent.

He also supported the establishment of an African Climate Adaptation Fund to help the most vulnerable countries cope with natural disasters, drought and rising sea levels.

In the field of infrastructure, His Excellency the President of the Republic, Chairman of the African Union, succeeded in mobilizing support for the “300 Million” initiative, which aims to provide electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030. Thanks to his leadership, the funding of this ambitious initiative is almost complete, as confirmed by recent statements issued in his presence in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

The crucial issue of agriculture and food sovereignty on the continent has made significant progress. Aware that this issue requires increased access to fertilizers and improved soil fertility, he chaired a summit in Nairobi devoted to this major issue, which brought together heads of state, experts and actors in the agricultural sector.

The President also highlighted the demographic vitality in Africa and the pivotal role of youth as an engine of development. It has given new impetus to public policies designed to ensure education, economic inclusion and the participation of youth and women in governance.

The Continental Conference on Education in Nouakchott, which brought together many heads of state, ministers and international experts, was a key moment in this commitment. The meeting highlighted key challenges: a severe shortage of 15 million teachers and an annual funding gap of $77 billion for education in Africa. This conference resulted in the Nouakchott Communiqué, which marks the launch of the “Accelerated Decade of Action for the Transformation of Education in Africa (2025-2034)”. This ambitious framework aims to ensure quality, equitable and sustainable education, in order to unlock the full potential of Africa’s youth.

Mauritania has made a significant contribution to this process by including its educational reforms in the African Union’s Agenda 2063, the aim of which is to instill the values of peace, tolerance and prevention of extremism from an early age in order to prepare a generation aware of the continent’s challenges and opportunities.

Finally, the results of this year’s chairmanship of the African Union were unanimously commended as an example of wise leadership characterized by:

– Effective diplomacy and the ability to unite around major African issues.

– Unwavering commitment to education and sustainable development.

– Skilled management of institutional reforms and crises shaking the continent.

– Unprecedented interest in environmental and climate issues.

– Resolute action to promote peace, with significant progress in major conflicts such as those in Congo, Libya and Sudan.