Minister of Interior inaugurates the First Session of the Training for Regional Border Management Committees

The Minister of Interior and Decentralization Promotion and Local Development, Mr. Mohammed Ahmed Ould Mohammed Al-Amine, presided this morning, Thursday, in Nouakchott over the opening of the first session for the training of regional committees for border management, in the presence of His Excellency the Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Ould Soueidatt, and His Excellency the Minister Delegate to the Minister of Interior and Decentralization Promotion in charge of Decentralization and Local Development, Mr. Yacoub Ould Salem Fall.

Participating in this two-day training are administrative authorities, regional heads, mayors, and leaders of security agencies in the three Nouakchott regions, as well as in Atar, Rosso, and Dakhlet Nouadhibou.

These five states constitute one of four national hubs currently benefiting from forums, training sessions, and guidance programs implemented by the Ministry of Interior, Decentralization Promotion, and Local Development, in accordance with the high directives of His Excellency, the President of the Republic, Mr. Mohamed Ould Sheikh Ghazouani, aimed at carrying out a comprehensive reform of the administrative system, making administration closer to the citizen, and stronger in enabling them to conduct their transactions and claim their rights smoothly and with dignity, based solely on citizenship, and making it more modern and capable of managing available resources effectively.

The Minister of Interior, Decentralization Promotion, and Local Development emphasized in his speech on the occasion that organizing this guidance and training forum is part of the Ministry of Interior, Decentralization Promotion, and Local Development’s plan aimed at enhancing the readiness of administrative and municipal authorities and strengthening their institutional capacities.

He added that the Nouakchott station represents the second station after the Atar station, within a work plan that will be extended to the remaining regions of the country, in line with the directives of His Excellency the President of the Republic, Mr. Mohamed Ould Sheikh El Ghazouani, under which the Ministry of Interior, Decentralization, and Local Development has begun implementing extensive administrative reforms aimed at modernizing the public system.

He said that the essence of these reforms focuses on making the administration closer to the citizen, and more capable of enabling him to exercise his rights in a fair and effective manner, based solely on citizenship. This approach is based on a firm conviction of His Excellency the President of the Republic, Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, that the quality of public service is fundamental in enhancing trust between the citizen and the administration, and in improving developmental performance at the local level.

The minister explained that if ongoing government projects and programs aim to achieve comprehensive political, economic, and social transformations, their success remains dependent on having a qualified professional administration that adheres to good governance principles and has the ability to optimally manage resources. For this reason, His Excellency the President, Mr. Mohamed Ould Sheikh El Ghazouani, has repeatedly emphasized the need to enhance the level of continuous training for administrative staff and deepen their understanding of the challenges related to local management and regional development functions.

He pointed out that, in this context, the current forum will provide a practical framework for developing competencies in areas directly related to the daily powers of administrative authorities, including: municipal police, oversight of legality, property management, the legal framework for collecting and processing information, border management mechanisms, environmental issues and fire fighting, project monitoring, the Republican School, and illegal immigration.

The Minister of Interior emphasized that consolidating citizenship is a national choice that strengthens the bonds of national belonging, and requires treating all citizens equally, and shielding the administration from any influence of narrow ties, whether they are tribal, ethnic, or class-based. He also indicated that the relevant authorities must closely follow up on the Nouakchott city modernization program and the urgent program in the interior, as well as the urban services provided by the relevant authorities and municipalities.

He concluded by saying that administrative and municipal authorities are required to strictly implement these directives, making public service a tool for consolidating the values of citizenship, ensuring justice in access to rights, and guaranteeing the effective management of resources and local development.

In turn, the President of the Nouakchott Region, Mrs. Fatima bint Abdel Malik, said in a speech on the same occasion that the high directives of His Excellency the President of the Republic, Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, have provided a clear framework for building a cohesive society based on national unity and inclusive citizenship, while rejecting all forms of narrow-mindedness. In this context, the emphasis was placed on overcoming tribal and regional considerations as a fundamental step towards a modern state where opportunities are equal for everyone.

The first day of the opening of this session was marked by a series of presentations on our country’s efforts to combat illegal immigration, another on the Republican School, a third on the legal and regulatory framework for border management, in addition to discussions on plans and mechanisms for the internal work of the regional border management committees and methods for acquiring and rehabilitating urban and rural land in Mauritania.