President of Republic Receives New French Ambassador’s Credentials

On 14 October, in Nouakchott, His Excellency Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, the President of the Republic, received the credentials of His Excellency Mr. Emmanuel BESNIER, in his capacity as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.

After the ceremony to present the credentials, His Excellency the President of the Republic granted an audience to the French diplomat, in the presence of His Excellency Mr. Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Mauritanians Abroad.

At the end of the meeting, the French diplomat made the following statement:

“I have just presented my credentials to His Excellency President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani. This very solemn and beautiful ceremony marks the beginning of my mission as Ambassador of the French Republic to Mauritania.

I would first like to thank His Excellency President El Ghazouani, the entire Mauritanian government, and all the Mauritanians I have met since my arrival in this magnificent country. I would like to thank them for their very warm welcome, which, I believe, illustrates the depth of friendship between our two peoples and our two countries.

I am embarking on this mission with great enthusiasm and three main objectives:

– The first objective is to further strengthen our political relationship. It is an excellent relationship, based on mutual respect and shared values.

I am thinking particularly of our commitment to multilateralism and the preservation of peace, which enables Mauritania and France to work closely together on major international issues: the fight against climate change, regional and international security, and the situation in the Middle East.

– The second objective is to continue and intensify our cooperation in the service of the economic and social development of our two countries. In very concrete terms, this concerns areas such as investment, infrastructure, water, energy, agriculture, and many others.

Today, around 40 French companies are present in Mauritania. They are investing and have created at least 2,000 direct jobs. I am convinced that we can go even further.

France’s financial commitments have been significantly strengthened in recent years, particularly through the French Development Agency, as well as through new instruments such as those of the French Treasury.

In this regard, you will recall that two weeks ago, His Excellency President El Ghazouani laid the foundation stone for the Aftout project to supply water to the city of Nouakchott. This project is receiving €42 million in support from the French government. This is a concrete example of our commitment to development for the benefit of all Mauritanians.

– Finally, the third objective is to continue our efforts to strengthen the human ties between our two peoples. These deep and long-standing bonds of friendship are our greatest asset.

I am thinking particularly of our respective youth. You can count on me, and on the entire French team, to continue to consolidate these ties through vocational training, education, studies in France, and cultural cooperation.

All of this is part of my overall roadmap: the agenda for transforming relations between Africa and France, led by President Emmanuel Macron.

You can count on me and on all the embassy services—on the entire team—to pursue this ambition in the service of our two peoples and the friendship that unites them.

Thank you very much.”