Mauritania Launches Workshop to Support Regional Committee Capacities in Transhumance

In the Mauritanian city of Rosso, a workshop was launched to support the capacities of regional committees in transhumance. The event was presided over by the Assistant Governor of the Adrar des Iforas region, Sid Mohamed Abdallah Bounani. The workshop is organized by the Regional Project to Support the Pastoral System in the Sahel (PRAPS), which falls under the Ministry of Animal Development. Participants include representatives from administrative and security authorities, pastoral associations, and civil society from the Adrar des Iforas, Brakna, Corcorol, and Kidi Magha regions.

The Assistant Governor emphasized that the animal development sector is a key development area for Mauritania, with the Adrar des Iforas region playing a significant role in animal production. He noted that the region has benefited from several programs supporting animal production, as part of the government's priorities under President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani's program. These programs aim to enhance animal production, trade, and border security, particularly in the face of climate change and recurring droughts in the Sahel region.

Transhumance, a centuries-old practice among pastoralists, is crucial for the economic, social, and cultural development of countries in the region. The Assistant Governor highlighted the importance of securing this practice through a mechanism that ensures continuity while promoting peaceful coexistence between local populations, pastoralists, and their livestock. To this end, regional committees have been established to monitor and secure transhumance towards neighboring countries, guaranteeing mutual benefits for both the country of origin and the host country.

The establishment of these regional committees is based on a partnership agreement between the African Network of Pastoralists and Herders (RBM) and the African Committee to Combat the Effects of Drought in the Sahel (CILSS). The committees aim to ensure that transhumance is carried out in a secure and sustainable manner. The workshop also features a presentation by expert Dah Ould Akh Tour on national, bilateral, and African agreements related to transhumance, as well as the importance of the Mauritanian pastoral code.

The workshop brings together various stakeholders, including representatives from the National Union of Pastoral Associations (GNAP), which plays a key role in promoting pastoralism in Mauritania. The event also features a detailed presentation on the role of RBM and CILSS in supporting transhumance and pastoral development in the region. Participants will discuss ways to enhance regional committee capacities, improve animal production, and strengthen border security.

The Mauritanian government has been working to improve animal development and pastoralism in the country, with support from international partners such as the World Bank. The PRAPS project aims to enhance the resilience of pastoral systems in the Sahel region, while promoting sustainable natural resource management. The workshop in Rosso is part of these efforts, aiming to build the capacities of regional committees and promote more effective transhumance management.

The workshop was attended by various dignitaries, including the Governor of the Rosso province, the Deputy President of the Adrar des Iforas region, and the Regional Delegate of the Ministry of Animal Development in the Adrar des Iforas region. The event concluded with a call to action to strengthen regional committee capacities and promote more effective transhumance management, ultimately enhancing animal production and border security in Mauritania and the wider Sahel region.

Key points

• The workshop aims to enhance regional committee capacities in transhumance, promoting animal production and border security in Mauritania and the Sahel region.