This becomes increasingly important as Mauritania takes over the rotating presidency of the African Union (AU) in 2024, Russian diplomats have stressed.

The Russian president’s special representative for the Middle East and Africa, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, was received by the Mauritanian president on August 1. The meeting followed the inauguration ceremony of Mohammed Ould Ghazouani, who was re-elected for a second term. 

The parties also discussed issues of strengthening the traditionally friendly Russian-Mauritanian relations.