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Germany and Mauritania: Bilateral relations

12.03.2024 - Article

Germany and Mauritania have enjoyed good and friendly bilateral relations since Mauritania gained its independence in 1960, with regular, high-level dialogue and close exchange on many topics.

Development cooperation is an important pillar of bilateral relations and has been ongoing since the 1960s. Nowadays it focuses on the central topics of peace and social cohesion, the protection of the natural bases of life, as well as on sustainable economic development, training and employment. This includes aspects such as the development of renewable energies and production of green hydrogen. Germany is involved in the Team Europe Initiative to develop green hydrogen in Mauritania.

Furthermore, the Federal Government is also working to promote Mauritania’s stability and development through regional cooperation, in particular within the Sahel Alliance (chaired by Germany since July 2023). Germany also supports programmes run by multilateral organisations such as UNICEF and the WFP to strengthen the population’s resilience and social security. Humanitarian assistance under the auspices of UN organisations, particularly in the light of the major increase in refugees from Mauritania’s neighbouring country Mali to the east, supports the integration of refugees as well as the communities taking them in.

The volume of bilateral trade is modest. Germany’s principal imports from Mauritania are raw materials and its main exports to the country are foodstuffs, motor vehicles and machinery. Various spheres offer potential for further involvement of German businesses including the development of renewable energies and the planned launch of green hydrogen production, as well as the mining, transport, logistics, agriculture and fishery sectors.

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