AGP Executive Report

OIC Leadership in Jeddah: Mauritania’s Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed was elected Secretary-General of the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation during an extraordinary OIC foreign ministers session in Jeddah, succeeding Chad’s Hissein Brahim Taha, with Palestine and Jerusalem set as top priorities. Diplomatic Outreach: Mauritania’s election drew congratulations and follow-up calls, including from Saudi and Turkish foreign ministers, as regional coordination discussions continued ahead of the R4 meeting. Migration Rescue off Nouakchott: Mauritania’s coast guard rescued 161 migrants off the coast near Amhijrat after a week at sea from The Gambia, including 17 children; the group was taken to a reception centre in Nouakchott. More Rescues on the Atlantic Route: Authorities also reported earlier rescues of hundreds of migrants in the same dangerous West Africa–Canary Islands corridor, underscoring the scale of irregular crossings. Regional Security Talk: Pakistan’s Ishaq Dar held separate calls with Saudi and Türkiye, including discussion of regional developments and the US-Iran situation.

OIC Leadership in Jeddah: Mauritania’s Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed was elected Secretary-General of the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, succeeding Chad’s Hissein Brahim Taha, with Palestine and Jerusalem set as top priorities. Diplomatic Outreach: Pakistan’s FM Ishaq Dar held separate calls with Saudi and Turkish counterparts, congratulating Ould Cheikh Ahmed and coordinating ahead of the R4 meeting. Migration Rescue off Nouakchott: Mauritania’s coast guard rescued 161 migrants from a boat that had been at sea for about eight days after an engine failure, including 17 children, with people taken to a Nouakchott reception centre. Regional Security Diplomacy: Dar also discussed regional developments with Saudi and Turkey, while Mauritania’s OIC election drew broader congratulations across member states. Sahel Land & Climate Focus: UNCCD COP17 coverage highlighted restoration efforts and land degradation risks threatening livelihoods across billions.

OIC Leadership: Mauritania’s diplomat Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed was elected Secretary-General of the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Jeddah, succeeding Hissein Brahim Taha, with Palestine and Jerusalem set as top priorities. Diplomatic Outreach: Pakistan’s FM Ishaq Dar held separate calls with Saudi and Turkish counterparts, congratulating Ould Cheikh Ahmed and discussing regional coordination ahead of the R4 meeting. Migration Rescue: Mauritania’s coast guard rescued 161 migrants off Nouakchott after a week at sea from Gambia, including 17 children, and transferred them to a reception centre; authorities say the Atlantic route toward the Canaries remains deadly. Regional Security: Somalia’s cabinet approved two agreements with Mauritania—political consultations and diplomatic training—while reviewing efforts against Al-Shabaab. Regional Politics: Spain denied any evidence linking Morocco to the mass Ceuta migrant influx, saying it had no prior warning of the scale.

OIC Leadership: Mauritanian diplomat Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed was elected new Secretary-General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) at an extraordinary meeting in Jeddah, succeeding Chad’s Hissein Brahim Taha, with Palestine and Jerusalem set as top priorities. Diplomatic Outreach: Pakistan’s FM Ishaq Dar held separate calls with Saudi and Turkish foreign ministers, congratulating Saudi Arabia on the OIC leadership change and agreeing to stay closely engaged ahead of the upcoming R4 meeting. Migration Rescue: Mauritania’s coast guard rescued 161 migrants off its coast near Nouakchott, including 17 children, after a week at sea from Gambia; all were taken to a reception centre. Regional Cooperation: Somalia’s cabinet approved two agreements with Mauritania—one for political consultations and another for diplomatic training—while reviewing efforts against Al-Shabaab. Land & Climate: UNCCD highlighted land restoration momentum at COP17 in Mongolia, warning that degradation and drought threaten livelihoods across billions of people.

OIC Leadership: Mauritanian diplomat Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed was elected new Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Jeddah, succeeding Chad’s Hissein Brahim Taha, pledging a stronger, more influential OIC with Palestine at the top of its agenda. Migration at Sea: Mauritania’s coast guard rescued 161 migrants off the coast near Amhijrat, including 17 children, after a failed engine left them in distress; they are set to be transferred to a Nouakchott reception center. Regional Diplomacy: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal called Islamic cooperation “urgent” at an OIC foreign ministers meeting focused on Palestine, while the bloc discussed Jerusalem and the E1 settlement plan. Climate & Heritage: New mapping data highlights climate risks to 386 coastal UNESCO World Heritage sites, giving researchers clearer digital boundaries to track flooding and erosion. Development Cooperation: Mauritania and Germany signed a €35m deal in Nouakchott for vocational training, coastal biodiversity protection, and blue economy projects.

OIC Leadership: Mauritanian diplomat Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed was elected Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Jeddah, succeeding Hissein Brahim Taha, with a five-year mandate and a pledge to keep Palestine at the top of the agenda. Regional Diplomacy: Somalia’s Cabinet approved two agreements with Mauritania—one on political consultations and another to cooperate on a diplomatic training programme—while reviewing security efforts against Al-Shabaab. Migration at Sea: Mauritania’s coastguard rescued more than 160 migrants, including 17 children, from a boat in trouble off the coast, the second major rescue in a week. Energy Crisis Response (Nouakchott): Morocco sent a technical team and equipment to help restore electricity in Nouakchott after fires hit transformer stations in Toujounine and Tevragh Zeina, with Senegal also providing support. Blue Economy & Skills: Mauritania and Germany signed a €35m deal in Nouakchott to fund vocational training, coastal biodiversity protection, and blue-economy development. Sahel Land Restoration: UN recognition highlighted the WFP-led Sahel Integrated Resilience Initiative, including Mauritania, as a World Restoration Flagship.

Mauritania–Germany Cooperation: Mauritania and Germany signed a €35m deal in Nouakchott to back technical and vocational training, protect coastal biodiversity, and develop the blue economy, with €20m for training and €15m for coastal work. Power Restoration in Nouakchott: Morocco sent a technical team and equipment to help restore electricity after two fires hit Nouakchott substations, cutting power for parts of the capital; SOMELEC said service was gradually returning while repairs continued. Land Restoration for Food Security: UNCCD COP17 in Mongolia named three “World Restoration Flagships,” including a Sahel initiative led by WFP to rehabilitate degraded land and strengthen food security across Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger. Football Draws with Mauritania in the Mix: CAF mapped 2027 U-23 AFCON qualifiers, with Mauritania set to face DR Congo in the first round, while Beach Soccer AFCON qualifiers also paired Nigeria against Ghana and included Mauritania in the wider qualifying picture.

Mauritania–Germany Cooperation: Mauritania and Germany signed a €35m deal in Nouakchott to boost technical and vocational training, protect coastal biodiversity and develop the blue economy, with €20m for training and €15m for coastal projects. Power Restoration in Nouakchott: Morocco sent a technical team and equipment to help restore electricity after two fires hit Nouakchott transformer stations in Toujounine and Tevragh Zeina, cutting power across major districts; SOMELEC says alternative supply was installed and teams worked to bring back service. Sahel Land Restoration Spotlight: The UN recognized the WFP-led Sahel Integrated Resilience Initiative as a UN World Restoration Flagship, citing work across Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger to rehabilitate degraded land and strengthen food security. Youth Football Draws: CAF confirmed U-23 AFCON qualifiers in Egypt, with Nigeria set to face the winner of Mauritania vs DR Congo in the second round; the draw also mapped other key ties across the region. Migration Pressure in the Region: Reporting on the Ceuta crisis highlights how fast-changing border pressure can reshape routes and overwhelm processing systems.

Power Restoration in Nouakchott: Morocco sent a technical team, equipment and supplies to help SOMELEC restore electricity after two fires at Nouakchott transformer stations left parts of the capital without power for 24 to 72 hours; Senegal also provided support, and crews worked to restart the eastern substation and repair the western one feeding areas including Toujounine, Tevragh Zeina, Dar Naim, Sebkha and key lines to Tanit Port and the airport. CAF Youth Football Draws: Nigeria’s U-23 Olympic Eagles were drawn to face the winner of Mauritania vs DR Congo in the second round of the 2027 U-23 AFCON qualifiers, with first legs in November; meanwhile, Nigeria’s Super Sand Eagles drew Ghana in the 2026 Beach Soccer AFCON qualifiers. Migration Pressure on the Atlantic Route: Senegal and Mauritania reported intercepting more than 750 migrants trying to reach the Canary Islands, including a Senegalese case with 210 people and Mauritania’s rescue of 315. Regional Diplomacy: Foreign ministers including Mauritania condemned Israeli strikes on Syria’s Abu al-Duhur airbase as an extreme escalation and a violation of sovereignty. Sports Spotlight: Fabio Capello said AC Milan’s Ruben Amorim has transformed Samuel Chukwueze into a more dynamic right wing-back.

Power Restoration in Nouakchott: Morocco sent a technical team and equipment to help SOMELEC restore electricity after two fires hit power substations, causing long outages across parts of Nouakchott including Dar Naim, Toujounine, Arafat, Teyarett, Ksar and Sebkha. Youth Football—CAF U-23 Road to Egypt: CAF set the 2027 U-23 AFCON qualifiers draw: Ghana will face the winner of Togo vs Libya, while Nigeria awaits the winner of Mauritania vs DR Congo. Migration at Sea: Mauritania’s coast guard rescued more than 300 migrants off Nouadhibou, including Senegalese and Gambians, after a wooden boat drifted in dangerous Atlantic conditions. Regional Diplomacy: Foreign ministers including Mauritania condemned Israeli strikes on Syria’s Abu al-Duhur airbase, calling them an extreme escalation and urging respect for the 1974 disengagement agreement. Economy Watch: A Global Finance ranking placed Nigeria among the world’s 60 poorest by GDP-PPP per capita, with many of the lowest-ranked countries in Africa.

Humanitarian Partnerships: An Emirati minister urged donors to empower crisis-hit communities, citing UAE support in Mauritania to train midwives and cut maternal deaths. Migration at Sea: Senegal and Mauritania intercepted and rescued more than 750 migrants trying to reach the Canary Islands, including a Mauritanian coastguard rescue of 315 people off Nouadhibou. Regional Diplomacy: Foreign ministers including Mauritania condemned Israeli strikes on Syria’s Abu al-Duhur airbase as an “extreme escalation,” calling for respect for sovereignty and the 1974 disengagement deal. Football Youth Pathway: CAF confirmed 48 nations for the 2028 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations qualifiers, with Mauritania among the teams starting the road to Egypt. Civic Space Watch: A new analysis says Mauritania has improved civic space in recent evaluations, highlighting room for reforms that can boost transparency and investment.

Atlantic Migration Watch: Mauritania’s coast guard rescued more than 300 migrants, including 40 children, from an overloaded drifting wooden boat off Nouadhibou after it left Gambia—another reminder of the deadly Atlantic route to the Canary Islands. Regional Diplomacy: Foreign ministers from Mauritania and 11 other countries condemned Israel’s strikes on Syria’s Abu al-Duhur military airbase, calling them an “extreme escalation” and demanding respect for Syria’s sovereignty and the 1974 disengagement deal. EU-Morocco Migration Deal: The European Commission says it will boost funding for Morocco’s border control after the Ceuta crisis, adding €190 million by 2027 to support return, protection and legal migration. US Visa Ruling: A US judge struck down Trump’s immigrant-visa freeze for nationals of 75 countries, though other restrictions still apply. Youth Football: CAF confirmed 48 nations for the 2028 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations qualifiers draw, with Mauritania among the teams starting the road to Egypt.

Atlantic Migration Watch: Senegal and Mauritania say they have stopped more than 750 migrants trying to reach Spain’s Canary Islands, including a Mauritanian coast guard rescue of 315 people off Nouadhibou with minors among them. Diplomacy on Syria: Foreign ministers from Mauritania and 11 other countries condemned Israeli strikes on Syria’s Abu al-Duhur airbase, calling them an “extreme escalation” and demanding respect for Syria’s sovereignty and the 1974 disengagement deal. Regional Migration Pressure: The same Atlantic route remains a major departure corridor, with authorities warning the journey of roughly 1,500 km is deadly and often involves wooden boats in distress. Civic Space in Mauritania: A new analysis notes Mauritania among countries that improved civic space conditions, highlighting room for reform and freer public participation.

Syria Crisis Diplomacy: Foreign ministers including Mauritania condemned Israeli strikes on Syria’s Abu al-Duhur military airbase, calling them an “extreme escalation” and a “flagrant” violation of Syria’s sovereignty, urging respect for the 1974 disengagement deal and withdrawal of Israeli forces. Migration Watch (Nouakchott/Nouadhibou): Mauritania’s coast guard rescued 315 migrants off Nouadhibou—191 from Senegal, 123 from The Gambia and one from Mali—after a drifting wooden boat left Gambia for Europe; authorities say women, minors and infants were among those saved. EU-Morocco Border Deal: The European Commission plans extra funding for Morocco’s border control and migration management after the Ceuta crisis, with an additional €190 million expected by 2027, plus support for return, protection and legal migration. Regional Civic Space: A new analysis highlights that civic space remains “blocked, repressed or closed” across most of Sub-Saharan Africa, while noting Mauritania’s recent improvement in assessments.

Diplomacy & Security: Foreign ministers from Türkiye, Algeria, Indonesia, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and others condemned Israel’s strikes on Syria’s Abu al-Duhur military airbase, calling them an “extreme escalation” and a violation of Syria’s sovereignty, urging respect for the 1974 disengagement deal and withdrawal of Israeli forces. Migration Watch (Mauritania): Mauritania’s coast guard rescued more than 300 migrants, including 40 children, off Nouadhibou after a drifting wooden boat left the Gambia for Europe; authorities say search-and-rescue operations remain active following earlier rescues. Regional Policy: The EU plans to boost funding for Morocco’s border control and migration management after the Ceuta crisis, with an additional €190 million expected by 2027, citing Morocco as a key partner against smuggling. Civic Space (Mauritania in focus): A new report notes Mauritania improved in recent civic-space evaluations, highlighting how room for civil society can strengthen transparency and accountability.

Regional Diplomacy: Foreign ministers from 12 countries, including Mauritania, condemned Israeli airstrikes on Syria’s Abu al-Duhur military airport, calling them an “extreme escalation” and a “flagrant” violation of Syria’s sovereignty, urging the withdrawal of Israeli forces and respect for the 1974 Disengagement Agreement. Migration Watch: Mauritania’s coast guard rescued more than 300 migrants off Nouadhibou, including 40 children, from an overcrowded wooden vessel drifting after leaving Gambia for Europe; authorities say search-and-rescue operations remain active as the Atlantic route continues to claim lives. Civic Space: A new analysis highlights that civic space is still heavily restricted across Sub-Saharan Africa, but notes improvements in countries including Mauritania, pointing to room for reforms that can boost transparency and accountability.