Mauritania omitted Polisario Front leader Brahim Ghali from official Eid al Fitr greetings, adding to recent signs of a more restrained public posture by Nouakchott on the Sahara issue.
Mauritania continues to recognise the self proclaimed SADR, and maintains a position of neutrality in the dispute. Recently it began tightening protocol regarding its public engagement with the Polisario leadership.
These include President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani’s reported refusal to pose for a photograph with Ghali at an official event, avoiding placing him on the same diplomatic footing as heads of state.
Hicham Mouatadid said Mauritania was adopting what he described as “protocol cooling,” reducing visible signs of recognition without breaking relations.
He said the approach allows Nouakchott to preserve ties with Algeria while safeguarding economic and strategic links with Morocco, which include trade flows through El Guerguerat and cooperation on regional connectivity and Atlantic facing initiatives.
But increasingly, Mauritania appeared to be adapting its conduct to a diplomatic environment increasingly favourable to Morocco’s autonomy plan, Jaouad El Qasmi, a researcher in international relations, said.
That environment includes backing for Morocco’s position from countries such as France and the United States, alongside broader Arab support for Rabat’s proposal, which has shifted the regional diplomatic landscape.
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