On September 20, 2026, Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani chaired a meeting with officials, leaders, and stakeholders from Atar city, as part of his working visit to Adrar state. The President expressed his gratitude to the people of Adrar state, particularly those from Atar city, for their warm welcome and large turnout at the city's popular festival. He praised the opportunity to meet with the state's officials, leaders, and stakeholders to discuss national issues.
The President emphasized that the meeting aimed to discuss and exchange views on national issues, particularly those related to Adrar state and Atar city. He invited participants to share their observations, opinions, and concerns, reiterating his appreciation for their presence and participation. In response to interventions, the President thanked attendees for their patience and attention during the session, which reflected the level of interest in the state.
President El Ghazouani noted that most attendees were young people, alongside personalities and leaders with extensive knowledge of the country's history and reality. He stressed the importance of involving everyone in the discussion on national issues, particularly those related to Adrar state and Atar city. The President acknowledged that the demands expressed by participants were legitimate and aligned with the concerns of citizens in various states.
The President reviewed the country's development vision, which has been implemented since 2019, based on a realistic assessment of the challenges facing the country. He highlighted the progress made in various sectors, despite the need for improvement in service delivery and development. President El Ghazouani emphasized that addressing Adrar's and Atar's issues was part of a comprehensive national development vision.
The President outlined the challenges facing the country, particularly in education, healthcare, water, and electricity. He noted that the education sector had suffered from overcrowding, inadequate infrastructure, and temporary classrooms, while the healthcare sector faced shortages of facilities, equipment, and medical staff. President El Ghazouani emphasized that providing basic services, including water, education, healthcare, energy, and electricity, was a priority.
In the education sector, the President reported that approximately 6,000 classrooms had been built since 2019, with an additional 3,000 planned for 2026, bringing the total to around 9,000 classrooms. He also mentioned the recruitment of thousands of teachers and the preparation for hiring over 2,700 more. The President highlighted the expansion of higher education, including the establishment of specialized institutes and universities.
President El Ghazouani discussed progress in the healthcare sector, including the establishment of regional hospitals, district hospitals, and health centers. He noted that the healthcare system had been strengthened with equipment and medical staff, with a significant increase in intensive care beds and ambulances. The President also mentioned investments in the water and electricity sectors, including projects to improve access to drinking water and electricity.
Key points
- President El Ghazouani's visit to Atar city aimed to discuss national issues and development projects with local officials and stakeholders.
- The Mauritanian government has implemented various development projects since 2019, focusing on education, healthcare, water, and electricity.
- The President emphasized the importance of involving citizens in the discussion on national issues and addressing the concerns of young people.
