Panafrican News Agency

Mauritania's new administration shows interest in Diaspora

Nouakchott, Mauritania (PANA) - Mauritania's new president, Mohamed ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, gives strategic importance to the management of the issue of nationals living abroad,  according to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Mauritanians Abroad, Ismail Sheikh Ahmed.

Briefing journalists on Thursday after the weekly cabinet meeting, the minister presented a communication on "the vision of the President on the issue of Mauritanians abroad".

He explained the change of the ministry's name from Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation by adding the dimension of "Mauritanians Abroad".


"This reflects an unequivocal desire to implement the commitments of presidential candidate Mohamed ould Cheikh El Ghazouani for the benefit of this segment of the population," he said.

Referring to the composition of Mauritanians in the diaspora, the minister  explained that "there are three categories of Mauritanian citizens abroad: the first is that of traders and businessmen who play an important role in host countries, the second comprises workers, graduates and senior managers operating in the public and private sector, but also in international organizations, universities and academies, and the third category, the largest, consists of citizens with low incomes, who go outside in search of work, engage in petty trading, or for religious reasons."

The contribution of Mauritanians in the diaspora through formal and informal transfers of funds to the country has not yet been evaluated and remains unknown.
-0- PANA SAS/TBM/KND/AR 23Aug2019