Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio, acting in his capacity as Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government, has concluded two days of high-level diplomatic talks with Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani.
The security summit, held in Nouakchott, focused heavily on the deteriorating security landscape across the Sahel and West Africa. The two leaders addressed a complex matrix of regional threats, including cross-border terrorism, violent extremism, climate pressures, food insecurity, and mass civilian displacement.
Bio, who was accompanied by ECOWAS Commission President Dr Omar Alieu Touray, described Mauritania as an indispensable strategic bridge between West Africa, the Sahel, and the Maghreb. He emphasised that Mauritania’s proven track record in counter-terrorism and border security makes it a vital ally in stabilized peace efforts.
“Stronger institutional engagement would help address shared challenges, expand trade and investment, and advance regional integration,” Bio noted, pushing for closer institutional ties between Mauritania and the regional bloc.
Expressing deep concern over the volatile situation in the Sahel, El Ghazouani pledged Mauritania’s continued co-operation with ECOWAS. To tackle the crisis head-on, he proposed hosting a special regional summit dedicated to neutralizing emerging security threats across the two regions.
–ChannelAfrica/ECOWAS–
