Mauritania’s President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani dispatched a second special envoy to Yaoundé within a week, signaling a robust diplomatic offensive. On June 24, Environment Minister Bessouda Mohamed Laghdaf arrived at the Unity Palace, carrying a sealed message specifically for President Paul Biya. The clear objective of this high-level visit: to secure Cameroon’s crucial backing for Coumba Bâ’s bid for the Secretary-General position of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF).

A confidential diplomatic mission and a direct plea

Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, Minister of State and Secretary General of the Presidency of the Republic, received the Mauritanian emissary late that afternoon. He acted on behalf of President Biya, who was not present in Yaoundé at the time. The meeting lasted approximately thirty minutes, during which Minister Laghdaf made no attempt to conceal the reason for her significant visit.

“We are conveying a message from Mauritanian Head of State, Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, to his brother, President Paul Biya. We delivered this confidential message in a sealed envelope to the Secretary General of the Presidency,” she informed reporters upon exiting the Unity Palace, emphasizing the importance of her mission.

This marks a notably intense diplomatic campaign, highlighted by two ministerial visits to Cameroon in just one week and a direct, sealed communication for President Biya. Foreign Affairs Minister Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug had initiated this effort on June 18, carrying an initial message to the Cameroonian head of state, paving the way for the subsequent visit.

The candidate championed by Nouakchott is Coumba Bâ, currently serving as an advisor within the Mauritanian presidency. Minister Bessouda highlighted Cameroon’s significant influence in the region, portraying it as a nation capable of fostering the “balance between various regions” that Mauritania hopes to embody through this particular candidacy for the OIF.

Reciprocity in action: drawing on past successful partnerships

Mauritania’s current diplomatic strategy is rooted in a clear and acknowledged precedent. In 2015, Cameroon provided crucial support for Sidi Ould Tah’s candidacy for the presidency of the African Development Bank (AfDB), a race which Mauritania ultimately secured. Nouakchott now seeks to replicate this successful formula, leveraging historical goodwill, this time for the OIF leadership role.

It is difficult not to perceive this approach as a deliberate and openly acknowledged strategy of reciprocity. Indeed, the Mauritanian minister spoke to the press about a mutually beneficial “win-win partnership,” underscoring the strategic nature of their appeal.

Nouakchott’s strategic focus extends beyond the OIF, targeting upcoming consultations within the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB). Cameroon is thus being engaged on multiple diplomatic fronts simultaneously, highlighting its perceived influence across various international bodies.

Yaoundé’s official response to this diplomatic overture, and the timing of that decision, remain unconfirmed at this moment.