The President of Côte d’Ivoire, Alassane Ouattara, welcomed his Mauritanian counterpart, Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, at the Ivorian presidential palace on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, for a 24-hour working visit aimed at deepening bilateral ties.

During their meeting, both leaders discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between their nations and address pressing regional security concerns. The discussions focused on consolidating the friendship and partnership between Côte d’Ivoire and Mauritania, with a particular emphasis on the challenges facing West Africa.

Strengthening bonds and addressing shared concerns

At the heart of the talks were the current state of relations between Côte d’Ivoire and Mauritania, future cooperation opportunities, and the pressing issues affecting the region. Both presidents reaffirmed their commitment to working closely to address these shared challenges.

President Ouattara described his Mauritanian counterpart as an « ami et frère » (friend and brother), highlighting the strong personal and diplomatic ties between the two nations. He stressed the importance of unified action in tackling regional instability.

« We had an excellent discussion about the situation in our respective countries, the potential for cooperation, and most importantly, the difficulties facing the subregion. We are fully aligned on decisions and perspectives, and we will work closely to move forward, » declared President Ouattara.

Convergence on regional stability and mutual trust

President Ghazouani echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the deep-rooted friendship and solidarity between Côte d’Ivoire and Mauritania. He underscored the mutual trust and shared vision that underpin their relationship, which he described as solid and enduring.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to enhancing dialogue between Abidjan and Nouakchott on matters of mutual interest. Both leaders recognized the importance of collaboration in navigating the complex security landscape of West Africa.

By Mariama Hamani — Analyst