In daily events charged with tension and official movements, Mauritania is experiencing a mix of bold security actions, student mobilization rejecting interventions, high-level personalities’ health developments, and criminal incidents shaking cities, reflecting accelerated political and social dynamics in Nouakchott and Nouadhibou.
Major Changes in Security and Military Leadership
President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani has made major modifications in recent days to security and military command ranks, affecting key positions in the military institution hierarchy and security apparatus.
Key appointments include General Mohamed Ould Mkhaitar Ould Cheikh Sidya as head of the President’s special staff, replacing General Ibrahim Vall Ould Cheibani; General Mohamed Ould Cheikh Bayda as deputy chief of general staff of the armies; General Abbe Babti El Hadj Ahmed as head of air force staff; Colonel Hassan Bamb Mekt as inspector general of armed forces and security; and General Mohamed Ould Ehritani as director general of national security.
These moves are seen as part of a broader restructuring of control and security institutions, aiming to modernize the command system, ensure coherence among security branches, and prepare official apparatus for growing regional and internal challenges.
Former President’s Transfer to Private Clinic in Nouakchott
In another development, Nouakchott witnessed a notable event with former President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz’s transfer to a private clinic in the capital for medical examinations related to his health condition.
Circulating information indicates security authorities tightened measures around the clinic, asking several visitors without prior appointments to leave, coinciding with Ould Abdel Aziz’s entry for consultation with his bones and joints specialist.
This medical transfer follows previous consultations at private health facilities and a therapeutic catheterization in June at Nouakchott’s heart disease center, spotlighting his health status while serving his prison sentence.
Student Protests Rejecting “Militarization” of University Campus
Protests continue at Nouakchott University’s Faculty of Economics and Management, with students organizing strikes and sit-ins against administrative decisions they see as limiting their rights and affecting academic progress.
The National Union of Mauritanian Students firmly opposes what it calls “militarization” of the new university campus, arguing security presence restricts union freedom and sends negative messages about the university space’s nature and role in free debate.
Murder Crime Shaking Nouadhibou City
In Nouadhibou, a horrific murder crime rocked local circles after a man in his early thirties named Faisal Ben Bandak died from fatal stab wounds with a bladed weapon.
According to reports, a routine dispute escalated between the victim and his close associate into a fight where the perpetrator used a knife, inflicting severe wounds leading to transfer to the regional hospital where he succumbed.
Security forces quickly arrested the suspect shortly after the incident, launching an investigation into the crime’s circumstances.
Retirement of Senior Presidential Officials
At the high administration level, the Presidency retired several senior officials by end-2025 as part of renewing executive power’s administrative teams.
Affected personalities include presidential advisor Mohamed Mahmoud Lemat, Ghadiata Fatimata as deputy cabinet director, and advisor Ahmed Abah nicknamed Ahmidah, marking a new cycle in the presidency’s consultative and administrative composition.
Ongoing Consultations on National Dialogue
Politically, contacts continue between government and opposition regarding the awaited national dialogue’s contours, amid anticipation of decisions potentially reshaping the political landscape ahead.
Opposition forces seek to explore dialogue limits and guarantees covering elections, equal opportunities among political actors, and strengthened public freedoms, with sources expecting concrete steps if initial understandings mature.
