Mauritanians see Summit for Democracy participation as positive step

NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania -- Mauritania's participation, for the first time, in the second Summit for Democracy -- a three day, mostly virtual event held March 28-30 -- was a positive step for the country, observers said.

The summit was co-hosted by the United States, Costa Rica, the Netherlands, South Korea and Zambia, and 121 leaders were invited to attend -- among them Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould al-Ghazouani.

The international summit, which took place one week after the Russia-China summit in Moscow -- sought a united front against authoritarianism as Russia attacks Ukraine and as China launches a diplomatic offensive.

The United States, which has growing trade and investment relations with Mauritania, extended the invitation for several reasons, Mauritanian political analyst Bakary Guey told Al-Mashareq.

Among them is "the role that Mauritania is now playing in the Sahel region, amid security turmoil on the international stage stemming from the Russian aggression against Ukraine", he said.

Moscow has been attempting to make inroads in the Sahel region, he said, and China has a growing presence on the African continent.

But Mauritania has strong relations with the United States.

'An oasis of stability'

US leaders have put their trust in Mauritania due to "its success in combating extremism and terrorism and its leadership of the Group of Sahel States (G5-Sahel)", Guey said.

Mauritania represents for the United States and its allies "an oasis of political stability in a turbulent geopolitical environment", which US officials have noted on more than one occasion, he added.

Meeting with Foreign Minister Mohamed Salem Ould Marzouk on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly last September, US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland praised Mauritania's role in the region.

"Mauritania is an important leader in the Sahel on security and human rights reforms," Nuland said, according to a US Embassy in Nouakchott statement.

"Mauritania's efforts are key to addressing the key drivers of instability," she said. "The United States is therefore proud of its continued partnership with Mauritania."

"It seems that the US bet on Mauritania is strengthening day by day," said Sid Ahmed Ould Atfil, an expert on Sahel region crises.

This is why Mauritania was invited to the Summit on Democracy, where participants discussed the two key issues that most trouble the countries of the free world, he said.

These are Russian and Chinese global violations of human rights, he said, and Moscow's role in creating further insecurity in Africa and Eastern Europe.

The Mauritanian president referenced this in his opening speech at the summit, in which he thanked the United States for the support it is giving Mauritania in various areas.

The United States engages with Mauritania on a wide array of issues, according to the US State Department, including counterterrorism, food security, trade promotion, and efforts to strengthen human rights and the rule of law.

Last year, the US government earmarked more than $68 million to support programmes focused on education, humanitarian and development assistance.

It also assists Mauritania with partnerships aimed at improving public health, preventing and combating violent extremism and providing food security and humanitarian assistance to vulnerable populations, including Malian refugees.

The United States also advocates for free and fair elections and peaceful transfers of power, as in 2019 -- the first peaceful transfer of power between two democratically elected leaders in Mauritania's history.

Enhanced security role

As a member of the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership, Mauritania has received security assistance to support its counterterrorism efforts.

In a speech delivered via video at the summit, al-Ghazouani thanked US President Joe Biden for his tireless endeavour to promote and continuously develop democracy "so that it may be more resilient in the face of corruption and tyranny".

Mauritania must now play a heightened role in maintaining regional security, observers said, in light of Mali's withdrawal from G5-Sahel and as Mali has allowed Russia's mercenary army, the Wagner Group, to penetrate the region.

Given the weight of the responsibility placed on Mauritania, Atfil said, it needs "help from Washington and its allies, and at the same time it needs concerted efforts by the other Sahel countries".

While the rapprochement between Washington and Nouakchott explains Mauritania's participation in the Summit for Democracy, other African countries took part for other reasons, said journalist Mohamed Ag Ahmedou.

Tanzania, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia and Mozambique have an economic partnership with the United States, he told Al-Mashareq.

"These countries' political experiences are relatively successful, and this makes it natural for them to receive an invitation from Washington to participate in a summit held under the banner of democracy," he said.