Mauritania seeks Cameroon’s backing for OIF Secretary-General bid
The President of Mauritania, Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, has intensified diplomatic efforts in Cameroon with two high-level ministerial visits to Yaoundé within a week. On June 24, the Mauritanian head of state sent a second special envoy to the Palais de l’Unité, this time represented by Bessouda Mohamed Laghdaf, the Minister of Environment, who carried a sealed letter addressed to President Paul Biya. The mission’s primary goal? To secure Cameroon’s support for the candidacy of Coumba Bâ for the position of Secretary-General of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF).
Thirty minutes of direct diplomacy behind closed doors
Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, the Minister of State and Secretary-General of the Presidency of the Republic, received the Mauritanian envoy in the late afternoon on behalf of an absent President Paul Biya. The meeting lasted approximately thirty minutes, during which Bessouda Mohamed Laghdaf left no room for ambiguity regarding the purpose of her visit.
« We are here carrying a message from the President of Mauritania, Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, intended for his brother, President Paul Biya. We have delivered this communication under sealed cover to the Secretary-General of the Presidency, » she stated to the press upon exiting the Palais de l’Unité.
This marks the second ministerial visit in less than a week, with Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug, Mauritania’s Foreign Minister, leading the first delegation on June 18. The sealed letter to Biya underscores the seriousness of Nouakchott’s campaign strategy for Coumba Bâ, a senior advisor to the Mauritanian presidency.
The Mauritanian delegation framed Cameroon as a key player in shaping « the balance between different regions » Mauritania aims to represent through this candidacy.
Reciprocity at the heart of Mauritanian strategy
Nouakchott’s diplomatic push is not without precedent. In 2025, Cameroon backed Mauritania’s successful bid for the presidency of the African Development Bank (ADB) with Sidi Ould Tah at the helm. Now, Mauritania seeks to return the favor by rallying Cameroon’s support for Coumba Bâ’s OIF candidacy.
The Mauritanian minister explicitly described the initiative as a « win-win partnership, » signaling Nouakchott’s commitment to fostering mutual diplomatic benefits. Beyond the OIF, Mauritania is also targeting consultations within the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the Islamic Development Bank, with Cameroon positioned as a crucial ally across multiple fronts.
As of now, Yaoundé has not issued an official response, nor has a timeline been set for a decision.
