Mauritania celebrated the International Day of Peace on September 21, under the theme "Investing in Peace: For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day." The events were organized in collaboration with the United Nations and partners in Nouakchott, Bascknou, and Rosso. The celebrations included a week of mobilization with local institutions, communities, youth, women, media, and local actors. The goal was to promote a culture of peace and strengthen social cohesion.
The International Day of Peace provided an opportunity to review Mauritania's experience in building peace and promoting stability. A variety of cultural, sporting, and educational activities were organized, highlighting the "everyday peacebuilders" who contribute to building a peaceful and united society. These activities are part of Mauritania's national efforts to support peacebuilding, promote social cohesion, and prevent conflicts.
The Minister of Economic Affairs and Development, Abdullah Ould Suleiman Ould Cheikh Sidia, addressed the celebrations. He emphasized that the theme of the International Day of Peace highlights the fact that peace is not just the absence of conflict, but a long-term process based on justice, fairness, inclusion, and dialogue. He added that peace is linked to sustainable development that leaves no one behind.
The Minister noted that since President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani took office in 2019, Mauritania has made preserving peace, promoting national unity, and strengthening social cohesion a priority. He stated that the country has maintained stability and promoted resilience in a challenging regional environment. This stability, he said, is not a coincidence, but the result of a vision that considers security, development, social justice, and good governance as interconnected and complementary elements.
The Minister highlighted the government's efforts to promote security, combat poverty and exclusion, reduce social inequalities, and improve access to basic services. He noted that the preliminary results of a recent survey on living conditions show improvement in several social indicators. The poverty rate decreased to 25.7% in 2025, and the extreme poverty rate dropped to 11.2%.
The Resident Coordinator of the United Nations system in Mauritania, Jutta Heinonen, also addressed the celebrations. She emphasized that the International Day of Peace is an opportunity to reflect on the conditions that enable communities to live in stability, inclusivity, and resilience. She noted that Mauritania has made political and institutional choices in favor of social cohesion and prevention to invest in peace.
Heinonen added that Mauritania has developed an approach that combines stability, development, inclusion, and prevention. She noted that the country has been eligible to benefit from the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund since 2018, which has mobilized over $38 million. The fund's eligibility was renewed for the period 2025-2030.
Key points
- Mauritania celebrates International Day of Peace with events in Nouakchott, Bascknou, and Rosso.
- The celebrations aim to promote a culture of peace and strengthen social cohesion.
- Mauritania has made progress in reducing poverty and promoting stability, with a focus on sustainable development and social justice.
