Casablanca — Lieutenant General Mohammed Berrid, Inspector General of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) and Commander of the South Zone, led a Moroccan military delegation that concluded a three-day visit to Mauritania today. The visit marked a significant step in deepening defense coordination between the two North African nations. The delegation’s trip was punctuated by meetings that focused on the sixth session of the Moroccan-Mauritanian Joint Military Commission, a body aimed at enhancing defense planning and strategic cooperation.
In Nouakchott, the Mauritanian capital, President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani welcomed Berrid and the delegation on Tuesday. The meeting, attended by Morocco’s ambassador to Mauritania, Hamid Chabar, was a high-point of the trip, according to a statement from the FAR General Staff. The discussion between the leaders was part of a broader visit that centered on enhancing military ties between Morocco and Mauritania.
During the visit, Berrid also met with Defense Minister Hanena Ould Sidi at the Ministry of Defense. Sidi honored Berrid with the National Order of Merit at the rank of Commander, a significant recognition from the Mauritanian government. The Moroccan official then co-chaired the sixth session of the joint military commission with the Chief of the General Staff of the Mauritanian Armed Forces, underscoring the collaborative nature of the meeting.
Both sides expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of the military cooperation, which has produced “tangible outcomes “according to the FAR. The commission has become a vital channel for discussing training, technical support, expertise exchanges, and operational coordination, with a particular focus on border security, irregular migration, and combating illicit cross-border activities.
Military ties between Morocco and Mauritania, which date back to 1971, have been formalized through a memorandum of understanding since 2006, establishing the joint military commission. The recent meetings have taken on increased importance as both countries address shared regional concerns such as Sahel instability, trafficking routes, and migration pressures along their border areas.
Source: moroccoworldnews
Original author: Oumaima Moho Amer
