Mauritanian President’s Envoy Delivers Written Message to Tunisian President Kaïs Saïed
Received at the Carthage Palace, the emissary of the Mauritanian President handed over a written message to Kaïs Saïed, sealing the solidity of the historic ties between Tunis and Nouakchott. At the heart of the exchanges are a deeply‑rooted common heritage and a shared will to strengthen cultural, academic and economic cooperation. In the face of global transformations, both countries voice their ambition to become actors of a new, emerging order.
Meeting at the Carthage Palace
On Friday, 27 February, President of the Republic Kaïs Saïed received Mr. El Houssein Oueld Medou, Mauritania’s Minister of Culture, Arts, Communication and Relations with Parliament, who also serves as the government’s spokesperson. Mr. Oueld Medou was in Tunisia as a special envoy carrying a written message from His Excellency President Mohamed Oueld Cheikh El Ghazouani, President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.
The encounter provided an opportunity to recall, as a preamble, the privileged relations that unite the two nations—fraternal bonds deeply anchored in history.
Historical Roots of the Bilateral Relationship
The ties date back to the era when Kairouan maintained close exchanges with “Bilad Chinguit,” the former name of Mauritania. Contacts have continued over the centuries on several levels, especially in the cultural and jurisprudential fields between the two brotherly peoples.
One landmark preserved in history is the work Al‑Risāla by Ibn Abi Zayd al‑Qayrawānī. Mauritanians have attached great importance to this treatise, gradually turning their country into a leading Islamic scientific and cultural centre.
President Saïed also revisited the relations between the Tunisian Republic and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania since Mauritania’s independence. Tunisia was the first country to recognize Mauritania and to support it in all international forums.
Educational and Academic Exchanges
- Mauritanian students have long chosen Tunisia for higher education.
- Today, many Tunisian students are opting for Mauritania to continue their studies.
This long‑standing dynamic of exchange and solidarity across history fosters a deeper rapprochement between the two peoples—not only in cultural and scientific domains but also economically.
Economic Cooperation
Both governments highlighted the need to translate the historic and academic cooperation into concrete economic projects. Areas of interest include:
- Joint ventures in renewable energy and mining.
- Trade facilitation for agricultural products and textiles.
- Investment in tourism infrastructure that leverages shared heritage sites.
Facing Global Transformations
The discussion also turned to the rapid and successive changes shaping the world today. President Saïed stressed the necessity of unifying positions to confront the various challenges ahead.
“A new page of history is being written; we aspire to be its actors rather than, as in the past, its victims. We possess all the capacities, wealth and skills required. As long as these fraternal ties bind us and we share the same will, we will realise our aspirations and overcome every difficulty.”
Outlook
With a common heritage, mutual educational flows, and growing economic collaboration, Tunisia and Mauritania are positioning themselves as proactive contributors to a new international order under construction. The written message delivered at the Carthage Palace symbolizes not only a reaffirmation of past bonds but also a forward‑looking commitment to deepen cooperation across all sectors.
