Mauritania's Interior Minister, Muchtar Ould Ahmed Boosif, has expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of Arma, the company responsible for maintaining cleanliness in Nouakchott. He emphasized the need for the company to address its shortcomings and improve its execution of contractual obligations by the end of December. The minister made these remarks during a meeting at the ministry to assess the city's cleanliness and review Arma's performance.
According to Minister Boosif, the continued presence of waste in several neighborhoods and streets of Nouakchott indicates that Arma has failed to fulfill its contractual obligations, despite efforts by administrative authorities, government sectors, and partners in cleanliness campaigns. He stressed that the sector's responsibility to oversee cleanliness requires mobilizing all available resources to ensure the capital's cleanliness.
Minister Boosif highlighted that the goal is to guarantee Nouakchott's cleanliness, either by correcting Arma's performance or exploring alternative solutions to ensure continuity of service. He noted that the deadline given to Arma until the end of December should be used to address shortcomings and called for studying alternative options without waiting for the deadline to avoid potential delays.
The minister has instructed several measures, including preparing a plan to remove accumulated waste from temporary dumps, activating all available dumps instead of relying on one, and assessing the situation of the Tiferit dumping center. He also decided to place Arma's logistical means and equipment at the disposal of the three Nouakchott governors to enhance coordination and field interventions in cleanliness.
Minister Boosif requested the governors to present practical proposals for sustainable solutions to the cleanliness crisis, which will be reviewed during an evaluation meeting on November 8. He emphasized that the responsibility of the sector in supervising cleanliness requires the mobilization of all available resources.
The minister's criticism of Arma's performance comes amid concerns about the cleanliness of Nouakchott. The city's waste management has been a longstanding issue, with residents and authorities calling for improved services. Minister Boosif's directives aim to address these concerns and find a lasting solution to the problem.
The government's efforts to address the cleanliness crisis in Nouakchott are ongoing, with the minister's meeting with governors and other stakeholders aimed at finding a solution. The outcome of these efforts will be closely watched by residents and observers, who are eager to see improvements in the city's cleanliness and waste management.
Key points
- The Mauritanian government has given Arma, the company responsible for Nouakchott's cleanliness, until the end of December to improve its performance.
- Minister Boosif has instructed measures to address the city's cleanliness crisis, including preparing a plan to remove accumulated waste and activating all available dumps.
- The government is exploring alternative solutions to ensure continuity of service, amid concerns about Arma's performance.
