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Mauritania - France Relations

France and Mauritania have a history of strong relations. Their bilateral relations are currently governed by the partnership framework document signed in April 2013 for the period 2013-2015, which establishes sustainable development, human development, governance and cultural and scientific cooperation as priority issues. This is coupled with extensive security and defence cooperation.

With exports totalling €210 million in 2014, France is one of Mauritania’s main suppliers, providing food and pharmaceutical products in particular. France’s imports, meanwhile, represented €62 million in 2014, with China being Mauritania’s largest client by far. The most part of its exports is made up of iron ore. Some 60 French companies are present in Mauritania. France remains the main holder of foreign direct investment in Mauritania outside the extractive industries, with a stock of €54 million in 2012.

France is the largest bilateral donor of development assistance to Mauritania (USD 84 million in 2012). The partnership framework document signed in April 2013 for the period 2013-2015 establishes human development, sustainability and cultural and scientific cooperation as priority issues, focusing on:

• promoting forums for cultural exchanges;
• promoting the French language;
• enhancing the potential of scientific knowledge;
• developing access to water and sanitation;
• developing alternative energy sources and access to renewable energy;
• supporting sustainable, transparent exploitation of mineral resources;
• developing education and technical and vocational training provision;
• contributing to improved maternal and infant health.

In parallel, the Agence française de développement (AFD, French Development Agency) implements debt relief and development contracts, three of which were signed for the periods 2002-2005, 2006-2008, and 2009-2013, while a fourth should be signed for 2014-2019. In recent years, AFD projects have covered water and sanitation, sustainable energy, preserving and developing natural capital, education, health, and local development.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development also manages several Priority Solidarity Fund projects such as “Support for mastery and use of French in Mauritania” and “Strengthening of the governance and vocational training of the University of Science, Technology and Medicine”. Mauritania is also home to an Institut français (French Institute) in Nouakchott, and five Alliance française branches, in Nouakchott, Nouadhibou, Kaédi, Atar and Kiffa.

In view of the security challenges in the Sahel-Sahara region, there is extensive security and defence cooperation between France and Mauritania. As such, Mauritania, along with Mali and Niger, received support under the “Justice and Security in the Sahel-Sahara Region” Priority Solidarity Fund project, aimed at strengthening State capacities in terms of internal security, the justice system, and customs in the fight against terrorism and organized crime. In the framework of Operation Barkhane, which was launched in August 2014, France has an operational military detachment in Atar. It also deploys operational instruction detachments for the Mauritanian armed forces.