Mauritania

The UAE’s Extradition Machine: How African Warrants Are Testing Dubai’s Global Image

Summary: for years, Dubai was known as a place where fugitives could disappear behind the city’s wealth, skyscrapers and international connections. Increasingly, it is becoming the opposite: a place where foreign governments can have people arrested and sent home.

September 4, 2026

Shifting Sands: Algeria’s changing perspective on Russia’s influence in North Africa

Summary: despite historically strong Algerian-Russian relations and Algeria's past reliance on Russian weaponry, current Algerian military leaders are increasingly concerned by Russia's growing influence in the Sahel and support for Khalifa Haftar in Libya, leading Algeria to explore closer military cooperation with the United States and potentially shift its arms procurement.

May 6, 2025

Gum arabic and the fighting in Sudan

Summary: the conflict in Sudan threatens the global supply of gum arabic which is used in many everyday products and processes.

May 9, 2023

Western Sahara and the limits of transactional deals

Summary: Trump’s granting Morocco’s claim to the Western Sahara looked a clever stroke and a big win for Israel but the road to final diplomatic recognition has hit a bump or two.

January 11, 2023

The Wagner Group: busy in the Sahel

Summary: while the world’s attention is focussed on Vladimir Putin’s war in the Ukraine his efforts to expand Russian influence in Africa continue at a pace that is causing disquiet in the Mauritanian capital of Nouakchott.

June 21, 2022

A grim marker for press freedoms in the Middle East

Summary: the media landscape in MENA shows a harsh story of journalists jailed, criticism silenced and authoritarians in absolute control.

May 4, 2022

Omicron and the Arab states

Summary: while scientists around the world rush to assess the impact of the emerging Omicron variant, much of the Middle East is at a worrying threat threshold.

December 7, 2021

Mauritania and the terror threat

Summary: as the Sahel sees increasing jihadist insurgencies, Mauritania remains free of the scourge of terrorism…for now.

September 16, 2021

Mauritania: business opportunities in a high risk neighbourhood

Summary: As Mauritania’s president steps up his anti-corruption drive and the country’s neighbours face growing terrorist insurrections, Britain’s new ambassador in Nouakchott talks up opportunities for British business

June 29, 2021

The Great Green Wall

Summary: after decades when very little happened, climate change has pushed a massive project to halt Sahelian desertification to the top of the priority list with Mauritania playing a lead role.

March 3, 2021

Mauritania leads in a tough neighbourhood

Summary:  Mauritania is hopeful that its leading role will take G5 Sahel to prosperity but the road to get there is strewn with economic, environmental and security challenges.

February 2, 2021

The new generation of Arab photographers

Summary: a new generation reclaims and redefines the way they see themselves and their world and in the process give the world images that challenge and refute traditional tropes and stereotypes.

January 18, 2021