How Mauritania has kept jihadists at bay in the Sahel

Mauritania has not experienced a terrorist attack in over 13 years, a stark contrast to neighboring Mali and other Sahel countries that continue to grapple with jihadist violence.

For a period of six years beginning in 2005, Mauritania also faced attacks on its military personnel, foreign embassies and Westerners in the country by Islamic extremist groups linked to al-Qaeda. But in 2008 it began implementing a multi-pronged approach that has successfully secured its borders, the Arab Weekly reports.

Central to this strategy was the establishment of Special Intervention Groups (GSI)—highly mobile military units skilled in desert operations and supported by light aircraft. These units patrol remote desert regions on camels, gather intelligence, and maintain a visible presence among nomadic communities. Numerous checkpoints have also been set up nationwide to bolster security.

In addition, Mauritania declared the sparsely populated northeastern region a restricted military zone, enhancing surveillance and deterring jihadists from using it as a safe haven.

Beyond military measures, Mauritania also focused on countering extremist ideology.

“There must be an alternative discourse to the jihadist interpretation,” Amadou Sall of the Mauritania Perspectives think tank told the Arab Weekly. To that end, the government enlisted national religious leaders to challenge extremist narratives and offer doctrinal counterarguments.

There has been speculation that Mauritania may have entered into a non-aggression agreement with al-Qaeda. While the government denies any such pact, Michael Shurkin, a former CIA officer and current Director of Global Programmes at 14 North Strategies, asserts that an informal agreement exists.

“Everyone agrees there is a pact. That’s a widely accepted thing,” he said. According to Shurkin, Mauritania enforces strict border controls, preventing armed jihadists from entering the country.

Sall emphasizes that Mauritania's approach sets it apart from other Sahel nations, where jihadist recruitment thrives on public discontent and marginalization.

“In Mauritania, the jihadist offer isn’t appealing compared to a state that drills wells, supports livestock herding, and organizes seasonal migration,” he noted.

As the Sahel remains embroiled in conflict, Mauritania’s blend of security, surveillance, and social engagement offers a rare model of resilience in a region beset by instability.