PM: Egypt backs Mauritania in fight against terrorism

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli on Sunday said Egypt backs Mauritania in the fight against terrorism, calling for exchange of information on terror groups and networks of organized crime.

Madbouli also said Cairo is ready to boost cooperation with Nouakchott in various fields.

He made the remarks in a meeting with Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, on the sidelines of the 31st session of the African Union Summit, which runs from July 1-2.

At the beginning of the meeting, Madbouli thanked the Mauritanian president on the warm hospitality and the excellent organization of the African summit’s events, the Egyptian cabinet’s media office said in a statement.

During the meeting, the Egyptian prime minister handed over the Mauritanian leader a letter from President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, the statement added.

Moreover, Madbouli hailed strong and historic ties binding the two countries, underlining that Cairo was looking forward to fostering cooperation with Nouakchott in different areas and continuing coordination on regional and international issue of common concern, the statement read.

Egypt highly appreciates cultural bonds with Mauritania, shedding light on the great momentum in bilateral relations since the recent visit of the Mauritanian President to Cairo in April 2016, the statement noted.

Madbouli touched on key steps taken over the past period to push forward cooperation with Mauritania in several domains, notably fisheries, oil, mining, agriculture, livestock, health, medicine and construction, the statement said.

The Egyptian premier commended the historic visit paid by Al Azhar Grand Imam Ahmed El Tayyeb to Mauritania in March, which resulted in a number of important results, including the signing of an agreement to establish an Islamic cultural center in Nouakchott for serving West Africa.

Egypt pays great attention to bolstering cooperation with the G5 Sahel states, pointing to the convergence of positions between the two countries in most regional and international issues, a top of which the fight against terrorism, the Libyan and Syrian crises, in addition to the Palestinian cause, the statement added.

At the end of the meeting, Madbouli posted the Mauritanian president on the latest developments at home, exploring efforts exerted by the state to uproot terrorism, as well as Egypt’s views on key Arab and African issues, the statement concluded.