Mauritania seeks Cameroon’s backing for OIF leadership bid

In a swift diplomatic maneuver, Mauritania dispatched two high-level envoys to Yaoundé within a week, signaling its commitment to securing Cameroon’s support for Coumba Bâ’s candidacy for the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) Secretary-General position. The second envoy, Bessouda Mohamed Laghdaf, Minister of Environment, arrived on June 24 bearing a sealed message for President Paul Biya, delivered through Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, Minister of State and Secretary-General of the Presidency—who received her in Biya’s absence.

Direct diplomacy: a clear message delivered in 30 minutes

Contrary to diplomatic subtleties, the Mauritanian delegation left no room for ambiguity. Bessouda Mohamed Laghdaf openly confirmed to the press that her mission was to present a personal message from Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani to his Cameroonian counterpart. The meeting, which lasted about 30 minutes, focused exclusively on this strategic request.

« We carried a closed envelope containing a message from President Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani addressed to President Biya. This document was handed to the Secretary-General of the Presidency on our behalf, » she explained upon exiting the Palais de l’Unité.

Reciprocity in action: the 2025 precedent

The Mauritanian approach is not isolated. In 2025, Cameroon supported Mauritania’s candidate Sidi Ould Tah for the presidency of the African Development Bank (AfDB), a move that ultimately secured Mauritania’s victory. Now, Nouakchott is seeking to replicate this successful exchange by rallying Cameroon behind Coumba Bâ’s OIF bid. Bessouda Mohamed Laghdaf explicitly framed this as a « win-win partnership » for both nations.

The Mauritanian campaign extends beyond Yaoundé, targeting consultations within the OIF, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB). The goal is to build a regional consensus around Coumba Bâ’s leadership.

As of now, Cameroon has not issued an official response regarding its stance on the candidacy. The timeline for a decision remains uncertain, leaving the outcome of Mauritania’s diplomatic offensive open-ended.