The diplomatic corridors of Yaoundé have seen intense activity this week as Mauritania intensifies its efforts to secure Cameroon’s backing. For the second time in just seven days, President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani dispatched a high-level envoy to the Palais de l’Unité. On June 24, Bessouda Mohamed Laghdaf, the Mauritanian Minister of the Environment, arrived with a confidential message for President Paul Biya, signaling a clear push for Coumba Bâ’s candidacy for the leadership of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF).
A strategic meeting at the Palais de l’Unité
In the absence of Paul Biya from the capital, Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, the Minister of State and Secretary General of the Presidency, received the Mauritanian delegation. The meeting, which lasted approximately thirty minutes, was focused and direct. Bessouda Mohamed Laghdaf was transparent about the purpose of her mission.
After the audience, she confirmed to the press that she had delivered a sealed letter from the Mauritanian Head of State to his Cameroonian counterpart. This visit follows a similar mission on June 18 by Foreign Minister Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug, highlighting a coordinated and urgent campaign by Nouakchott.
The central figure in this diplomatic push is Coumba Bâ, a seasoned advisor to the Mauritanian presidency. Minister Bessouda emphasized that Cameroon holds significant influence in maintaining regional equilibrium, a balance that Mauritania hopes to represent through this high-profile candidacy for the OIF Secretary General position.
A partnership built on mutual support
This request for support is rooted in a history of successful bilateral cooperation. In 2025, Cameroon played a pivotal role in backing Sidi Ould Tah for the presidency of the African Development Bank, an election Mauritania ultimately won. Now, Nouakchott is looking to replicate that success on the Francophone stage.
The strategy is framed as a “win-win” partnership. Beyond the OIF, Mauritania is also seeking Cameroon’s cooperation within other international bodies, including the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the Islamic Development Bank. While the diplomatic dance continues, Yaoundé has yet to make its official stance public regarding this latest request.