President of Republic Briefs Political Party Leaders on Efforts to Mitigate Impact of Current Middle East Crisis
His Excellency the President of the Republic, Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, held a high-level meeting this Friday at the Presidential Palace in Nouakchott with leaders of national political parties. The session was part of ongoing efforts to monitor developments in the Middle East and their direct repercussions on the national economy.
This meeting underscores His Excellency’s determination to involve the entire political spectrum in a unified national response.
During the proceedings, His Excellency provided party leaders with an accurate and candid assessment of the crisis’s impact on the national economy. He highlighted the country’s structural vulnerability due to its energy dependence and the genuine risks this poses to economic and social stability. He noted that, since the onset of tensions, the State has taken proactive and decisive measures, including the establishment of a ministerial committee to monitor market fluctuations in real-time and propose mitigating solutions. This anticipatory approach has already helped soften the severity of external shocks.
His Excellency emphasized the significant efforts undertaken by the State to protect citizens through substantial energy subsidies. However, he cautioned that while this policy is vital, its high cost makes it an unsustainable long-term solution for a crisis that is likely to persist.
Reviewing the outlook for oil prices, the President noted that all current scenarios point toward continued pressure on public finances, thereby reducing fiscal room for maneuver and necessitating major strategic shifts.
In light of these challenges, His Excellency announced the adoption of stringent measures aimed at enforcing strict financial discipline, combating waste, and enhancing the efficiency of public spending. He stressed that the State will lead by example by reducing its own expenditures and optimizing resource management.
He called upon all political forces to transcend narrow interests and embrace a spirit of national unity. He urged them to fulfill their historic responsibility by maintaining a transparent dialogue with the public and contributing to a comprehensive national mobilization. Furthermore, he stressed the necessity of promoting new social behaviors centered on rationalizing energy consumption, strengthening individual responsibility, and eliminating waste.
His Excellency affirmed that the country is facing a serious challenge requiring clarity of vision, courage, and cohesion. He emphasized that the supreme national interest remains the sole guiding principle of public action and that the government will take all necessary steps to preserve national stability.
He concluded by expressing his confidence that, through collective discipline and political and social unity, the nation will overcome this crisis and emerge stronger.