Mauritania’s Gulf ties will survive local rebalancing

Subject

Outlook for Mauritania's ties with the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Significance

President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani has recently sought to reaffirm the strong partnerships with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that were cultivated by his predecessor, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, even as he pursues a markedly more liberal approach to domestic political affairs. Prominent exiles were allowed to return home earlier this month. This raises an apparent contradiction, given the two Gulf states’ endorsement of Ould Abdel Aziz and his repressive internal policies.

Impacts

• Riyadh and Abu Dhabi will remain key sources of financial support for Nouakchott.
• A 2-billion-dollar aid package from the UAE will likely be disbursed over many months or perhaps several years.
• As the new chair of the G5 Sahel, Ould Ghazouani will seek to sustain hitherto inconsistent Emirati and Saudi support for the bloc.