Mauritania rejects Mali’s accusations regarding the presence of detained soldiers in the Mbera camp and describing them unsubstantiated claims containing serious offense

The government of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania has expressed its surprise and denunciation of the statement issued by the General Staff of the Malian Armed Forces, which alleged that Malian soldiers  were being held by terrorist groups inside the Mbera camp location in the Hodh Chargui region within Mauritanian territory.

Mauritania affirmed, in a statement issued today, Monday, by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Mauritanians Abroad, its categorical rejection of these allegations, stressing that they are not based on any evidence and constitute serious  accusations that amount to a grave offense.

The following is the text of the statement that the Mauritanian News Agency received a copy of:

The Government of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania has taken note, with surprise and condemnation, of the statement issued by the General Staff of the Malian Armed Forces, which claims that Malian soldiers held by terrorist groups managed to escape from a refugee camp located on Mauritanian soil.
Mauritania expresses its outright rejection of these accusations, which are not based on any truth and involve serious defamation. The issuance of such claims without providing any evidence, and without resorting to prior consultation through appropriate channels, is considered inappropriate behavior that cannot be tolerated.
Mauritania recalls that the Mbera camp has been hosting tens of thousands of Malians and people of other nationalities for nearly thirty years. This camp has remained under the constant supervision of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and many international humanitarian organizations and independent NGOs.

All workers in the humanitarian field have permanent access to this site, where they monitor daily the security and living conditions of the increasingly growing number of displaced persons.
Ministers from the current Malian government have visited this camp under transparent conditions and in the presence of the media. They praised the high level of professionalism they observed in the local services and also commended the hospitality shown by the host communities.
For the past three decades, operations have been based on the principle of protecting every rescued individual as long as they refrain from any hostile actions affecting peace on both sides of the border. Therefore, the suggestion that terrorist groups could detain people there constitutes a serious accusation. This accusation is inherently refuted in light of the fraternal relations experience between Mauritania and Mali.

Mauritania has consistently, despite the gravity and complexity of the security situation in our subregion, and the accompanying pressures, exercised restraint, a sense of responsibility, and the prioritization of the logic of calm. From this standpoint, it favors direct dialogue and diplomatic communication with the authorities of brotherly Mali, to avoid any escalation and to preserve the cohesion of the two peoples. In this context, the accusations being directed today without evidence against Mauritania cause both bewilderment and frustration. Mauritania, loyal to the principles of Islam, to African traditions, and to global human values based on solidarity and brotherhood, cannot accept questioning its commitment based on statements that have no basis in truth. The Mauritanian government calls on its counterpart in Mali to assume its responsibilities, to exercise more accuracy in its official statements, and to prioritize agreed-upon channels in accordance with established norms in foreign policy. In doing so, sensitive issues related to security and the management of shared challenges can find their solutions without escalation.

Mauritania remains committed to good neighborly relations and multidimensional cooperation with the brotherly Republic of Mali. However, it reserves the right to activate all necessary measures to safeguard its image and sovereignty and to present the facts as they are.