President of Republic Receives ASECNA Director General

On 10 September, in Nouakchott, His Excellency Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, the President of the Republic, received a delegation from the Agency for Air Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA), led by its Director General, Mr. Prosper Zo’o Minto’o.

The meeting focused on cooperation relations between Mauritania and ASECNA, as well as ways to develop and strengthen them.

Mr. Minto’o, a Gabonese national, was appointed as the new Director General of ASECNA at the end of the 74th Meeting (extraordinary session) of the Agency’s Committee of Ministers held on 27 September 2024, in Dakar.

At the end of the meeting, the Director General of ASECNA made the following statement:

“We had the honor and privilege of meeting with the President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania during my first visit to Mauritania as Regional Director of ASECNA. I would first like to thank the President of the Republic for his support for my candidacy for the position of Director General of ASECNA, which resulted in my election on 27 September. I reported to the Head of State on my assumption of office and the progress made so far to obtain his guidance on the work program I have initiated to bring the agency up to speed with air transport expectations in terms of airspace safety and efficiency.

We also reported on the work we are doing in Mauritania, which covers a very large territory, and on the challenges and requirements imposed by Mauritania’s international obligations and those of neighboring regions, given Mauritania’s strategic location at the interface with the South Atlantic, with traffic from North Africa and, of course, West Africa.

This requires technological choices, qualifications, and expertise that we must ensure to modernize infrastructure and train personnel. There is also an operational component between the Agency, as a tool for regional integration in support of the development of states, and a complement to international activities in the field of training.

Together with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and under the supervision of our Minister of Transport, we have identified several projects that will strengthen the civil aviation system, particularly the air transport system in Mauritania. We are also very pleased to see, during this visit, the dedication of the staff to accomplishing the missions that the Member States have entrusted to our Agency.

Thank you!