On November 3, 2026, Mauritania's Defense Minister, M. Ba Ousmane, conducted a visit to the Gendarmerie nationale headquarters in Nouakchott. The minister was received by the Gendarmerie nationale chief of staff, General Ahmed Mahmoud Ould Taya. The visit began with a review of Gendarmerie nationale units, which rendered honors to the minister. He then greeted several officers, bureau chiefs, and directors within the Gendarmerie nationale.
Following the welcome ceremony and the raising of national colors, the minister chaired an expanded meeting at the Gendarmerie nationale headquarters. The meeting included several officers from the institution and members of the minister's delegation. During the meeting, the minister received a detailed presentation on the organization's structure, missions, equipment, and recent developments within the Gendarmerie nationale over the years.
The minister's visit also included inspections of various Gendarmerie nationale facilities. These included the information systems and digital evidence directorate, a model room showcasing the Gendarmerie nationale's missions and operations, the central investigation office, and the public relations and studies office. Additionally, the minister viewed different Gendarmerie nationale uniform models and toured the cybercrime unit.
The program proceeded with a visit to the Gendarmerie Security and Intervention Group, which demonstrated exercises on protecting high-profile individuals, rescue operations, and interventions against various forms of crime. These demonstrations highlighted the operational readiness of the unit to execute its assigned missions. The minister and his delegation also visited the Rapid Intervention Group.
At the Rapid Intervention Group, the minister and his delegation learned about the unit's equipment and assigned missions. They then inspected the vehicle and motorcycle park, repair and maintenance workshops for Gendarmerie nationale vehicles, and the Gendarmerie nationale swimming pool. These activities allowed the minister to assess the Gendarmerie nationale's situation and preparedness.
The visit enabled the minister to evaluate the Gendarmerie nationale's level of readiness to accomplish its missions and the progress made in adapting to new security challenges. These challenges, particularly those related to trans-border crime, require increased vigilance and permanent preparedness at all levels. The minister's visit appears to be part of ongoing efforts to enhance the country's security.
The inspection and information gathering visit by the Defense Minister to the Gendarmerie nationale headquarters underscores the government's focus on security. The visit highlighted the importance of preparedness and adaptation in addressing evolving security challenges.
Key points
- The minister inspected various Gendarmerie nationale facilities, including the information systems directorate and cybercrime unit.
- The visit showcased the operational readiness of the Gendarmerie Security and Intervention Group.
- The minister evaluated the Gendarmerie nationale's preparedness to address new security challenges.
