Defense Minister Represents President of Republic at AU Extraordinary Summit

The Minister of Defense, Pensioners, and Sons of Martyrs, Mr. Hanana Ould Sidi, representing His Excellency the President of the Republic, Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, participated on Sunday in the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, held in Luanda, Angola.

In his address to the summit, the Minister emphasized that conflict prevention begins with addressing its structural causes—foremost among them institutional fragility, poverty, unemployment, weak governance, widening social disparities, and limited prospects for young people. He stressed that strengthening the rule of law and institutions, promoting justice and national cohesion, and expanding opportunities for youth are fundamental pillars for consolidating security and peace.

He highlighted that Mauritania, within the framework of the integrated security approach established and overseen by the President of the Republic, is guided by the firm conviction that “there can be no sustainable development without security, nor security where institutional, economic, and social fragility prevail.”

The summit focused on strengthening mechanisms for conflict prevention and resolution, developing the African Union’s political, legal, and financial tools for crisis management, supporting mediation and peacebuilding, enhancing coordination between continental and regional mechanisms, and consolidating the principle of “African solutions to African problems” while mobilizing the necessary resources to support continental stability and sustainable development.