President of Republic, French Counterpart Hold News Conference
On 15 April in Paris, His Excellency Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, the President of the Republic, held a joint news conference with his French counterpart, Mr. Emmanuel Macron, as part of his state visit to France.
In his remarks, the President expressed his deep gratitude to President Emmanuel Macron for the invitation, stressing that the visit clearly illustrates the depth and strength of relations between the two countries.
Below is the statement by the President of the Republic:
“First of all, Mr. President, I cannot find the words to thank you for inviting me to France on a state visit. This visit, in response to your invitation, clearly reflects the quality, density, and depth of the relations between Mauritania and France.
For us and our delegations, this represents a major opportunity to give new momentum to our ties of friendship and cooperation and to further strengthen them through a mutually beneficial partnership.
I am particularly happy and honored to be on this state visit and wish to express my sincere thanks for the exceptional welcome we have received.
This visit clearly illustrates the strength and depth of the relationship of trust that has long united Mauritania and France. Our country has chosen consistency in its partnerships, and this consistency explains the exemplary quality of our bilateral relations, which today are more valuable than ever in an uncertain context.
This meeting is an important opportunity to deepen our dialogue on the issues that concern us: the state and prospects of our cooperation, the security situation in the Sahel and West Africa, and global tensions and crises.
We welcome the excellent level of our cooperation, notably the improved collaboration with the French Development Agency, whose current portfolio amounts to €428 million and includes 42 projects in agriculture, energy, water, and many other sectors. Concessional treasury loans have reached about €80 million, and Proparco guarantees of €40 million support three Mauritanian private banks. We also appreciated the Franco-Mauritanian economic forum held last November.
Our country is full of promising projects, especially in gas, mining, and new technologies, as well as mature sectors such as agriculture and livestock. Our economic policy aims at diversification.
We reaffirm our strong commitment to strengthening our strategic partnership. We count on France’s expertise, international leadership, and role within the European Union to help us move forward more rapidly. We also rely on the dynamism of the French private sector and the continued support France has always provided.
Security in the Sahel remains a major priority. Mauritania has adopted a comprehensive approach that combines prevention, state presence, and dialogue, which has allowed us to maintain relative stability in a fragile environment. We are ready to continue and strengthen cooperation with France, a committed partner in the region.
Irregular migration is a major challenge in the Sahel, particularly for Mauritania, where the pressure is disproportionate to our demographic and economic capacities. We face this challenge with the support of the European Union.
We are also facing an unstable international context marked by geopolitical tensions and economic disruptions linked to crises in the Middle East and energy supply issues. We have taken measures to protect vulnerable populations and preserve economic stability, but these efforts require stronger support from our partners, particularly France, the EU, and international financial institutions.
Mauritania remains committed to multilateralism, international law, and the peaceful settlement of disputes. Without common rules, the world risks instability and injustice. France and Europe have an essential role to play in promoting a more balanced and stable international order.
Thank you.”
Full statement by the President of the French Republic
“Mr. President, dear brother,
It is an honor for France to welcome you to Paris for this state visit. Your presence here is a signal of friendship, trust, and clarity in a changing world.
This visit, the first of this level in more than 30 years, comes at a time when our shared responsibilities are greater than ever.
Mauritania is a key partner for France due to its geography, its commitment to stability and dialogue, and its role in a deeply destabilized Sahel region. In this context, Mauritania demonstrates that independence and responsibility are possible.
Together, we choose partnership, respect for sovereignty, and joint action to prevent further destabilization. In a world marked by power struggles and challenges to multilateralism, Mauritania and France support an international order based on rules, cooperation, and mutual respect.
Mauritania’s voice matters in Africa, the Arab world, Europe, and international institutions. We share strong positions on climate, oceans, food security, and the need to rebalance the global economy.
This strategic relationship must produce concrete results. Mauritania is a country of opportunities. French companies are already present, investing and creating jobs. For example, Meridiam has invested €155 million in the Nouakchott container terminal, employing nearly 350 Mauritanians, and around 40 French companies employ more than 2,000 Mauritanians.
We want to go further and faster in infrastructure, energy, water, agriculture, and the cities of tomorrow. A French-supported project will increase Nouakchott’s water production capacity by 50%, and the hybridization of 10 thermal power plants will build a more sustainable electricity system.
France has chosen not to withdraw from solidarity investments. Over the past two years, we have doubled our project portfolio, particularly through the French Development Agency. This includes support for Mauritania’s efforts to host more than 300,000 refugees in the east of the country.
The message is simple: Mauritania is not alone. France will continue to stand by it through businesses, financing, and development tools.
Your visit to Brest on the blue economy and our upcoming summit in Nairobi also reflect a broader ambition: to renew the relationship between France and Africa, focused on investment, innovation, and youth.
We share a historic responsibility not to passively observe global changes but to shape them together.
Thank you for your trust and friendship as we write new chapters together.”