Political relations

France fosters historically privileged relations with Mauritania.

After a period of tension in 1999 (the Ould Dah affair), relations between the two countries have intensified since 2001 and especially after the democratic transition of 2005-2007. President Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi’s visit to Paris on 27 to 30 October 2007 testified to this. On this occasion, a Framework Partnership Document was signed by Mr. Lemine, Mauritanian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and Mr. Jean-Marie Bockel, Secretary of State for Cooperation and Francophony.

With its partners from the international contact group, France contributed to the search for a consensual solution for ending the crisis caused by the state overthrow on 6 August 2008. Democratically elected, President Abdel Aziz made his first bilateral foreign visit to France from 26 to 28 October 2009.

^{Updated on 27.07.10}