SENEGAL-MAURITANIA-SECURITY-COPERATION / Opening of a joint patrol planning meeting between the Senegalese and Mauritanian armies

On Tuesday, the esplanade of military zone number 2 hosted the opening of a meeting devoted to the planning of joint patrols between Senegal and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania for the year 2025.

In addition to Colonel Thiendella Fall, commander of military zone number 2 covering the administrative regions of Saint Louis, Matam and Louga, his Mauritanian counterpart Mohamed Lemine Bellal and the governor of the Saint Louis region Al Hassan Sall also took part in the meeting.

"The meeting that brings us together today is in line with military cooperation, which is an essential component of diplomacy," explained Colonel Thiendella Fall.

The Senegalese military officer welcomed the initiative to "strengthen our relations with the Defense and Security Forces of the sister Islamic Republic of Mauritania".

His counterpart and Commander of the 7th Military Region of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, Mohamed Lemine Bellal, who expressed his satisfaction at the quality of the welcome, recalled that the main aim of this joint meeting was to "strengthen our relations with the Defense and Security Forces of the sister Islamic Republic of Mauritania". that the main aim of this joint meeting was to "plan joint patrols to address security issues along the border axis".

The governor of the Saint Louis region praised "the efforts of the Defense and Security Forces of both countries" in organizing joint patrols to secure border areas and populations.

According to Al Hassan Sall, this initiative reflects "the excellence of relations between Senegal and Mauritania".

The administrative authority also dwelt on the context in which these joint patrols are taking place, marked in particular by the concerted exploitation of natural resources through the Grand Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) project, which lies on the maritime border between Senegal and Mauritania.

Among other security challenges expected from these joint missions, Mr. Sall cited illicit drug trafficking, the fight against cross-border banditry and cattle rustling.

Source: aps.sn/ouverture-