Economic Affairs Minister Meets With IOM Deputy Director General for Operations

On May 10 in Washington,  Mr. Abdallahi Ould Cheikh Sidiya, Minister of Economic Affairs and Development, held a working session with Ms. Ugochi Daniels, Deputy Director General for Operations at the International Organization for Migration (IOM), on the sidelines of the World Bank Fragility Forum 2026.

At the beginning of the meeting, the UN official congratulated Mauritania on the adoption of its National Strategy for Peacebuilding and Social Cohesion (2025–2030), emphasizing the importance of this initiative in strengthening stability and promoting sustainable development.

Ms. Daniels also presented the regional approach being implemented by the IOM in West and Central Africa to organize cross-border pastoral transhumance, which is considered a key tool for strengthening economic resilience, securing livelihoods, and promoting the integration of regional markets.

The discussions focused on the IOM’s vision for preventing and managing fragility, an approach that aligns with Mauritania’s national priorities. The talks particularly highlighted the close links between climate change, population movements, and their economic impacts.

In conclusion, the two parties reviewed mechanisms and opportunities to support the development of high-impact structural economic programs, particularly in border areas, taking into account population displacement dynamics and current climate-related challenges and risks.