Abu Dhabi, Feb 2, 2020 – The United Arab Emirates will pump $2 billion into investment and development projects in Mauritania, state media said Sunday during a visit by the country’s new leader renowned for his anti-jihadist stand. “The UAE announced on Sunday the allocation of $2 billion to fund investment and development projects, as well as a soft loan for Mauritania,” the official news agency WAM reported. The West African country’s President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani met Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan and other Emirati officials during the visit. Mauritania’s defence ministry on Thursday denied media reports that the UAE was constructing a military base in the country. Mauritania — along with Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali and Niger — is part of the G5 Sahel force fighting jihadists in Africa’s Sahel region.

Source: The North Africa Journal February 04, 2020 12:56 UTC