Egyptian-Mauritanian relations are an example of friendship. Communication between the Egyptians and the Mauritanians was and still is real model of fruitful cooperation. Mauritanian-Egyptian spiritual and intellectual communication remained strong through scientific and linguistic bridges.

Political Relations

July 1963 marked a breakthrough in Egyptian-Mauritanian relations. An official Mauritanian delegation visited Egypt for the first time ever. The visit saw the establishment of diplomatic links between the two countries.

In 1992, a settlement of the Mauritanian-Senegalese conflict, which arose in 1989, was reached under Egyptian sponsorship.

On 23/9/2014, President Abdel Fattah El Sisi held a meeting with his Mauritanian counterpart Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz on the sidelines of the 69th United Nations General Assembly meetings. The meeting tackled a number of African and regional issues of mutual concern. 

 

Mutual Visits

On 27/3/2015, President Abdel Fattah El Sisi received Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz to attend the 26th Arab Summit in Egypt's Sharm el Sheikh.

On 8/7/2014, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received Mauritanian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Ahmed Ould Teguedi, in the presence of Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri. The Mauritanian Foreign Minister conveyed a message from Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz that included an invitation to Sisi to participate in the Mauritanian President's inauguration ceremony.

On 28/4/2014, President Adly Mansour met with visiting Mauritanian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Ahmed Ould Teguedi. During the meeting, which was attended by Deputy Foreign Minister for African Affairs Hamdi Sanad Loza, the Mauritanian top diplomat conveyed the greetings of Mauritania President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz to Mansour.

In September 2010, a high level Mauritanian delegation, led by Mohammad Ould Bou-Kheir, the Chairman of Mauritania's Tourism Promotion Authority visited Egypt. The delegation was brought up to speed on Egypt's expertise in the field of tourism. Egyptian businessmen and entrepreneurs were also encouraged to invest in Mauritanian tourism projects.

In August 2009, visit by Ambassador Mona Omar, Assistant Foreign Minister for African Affairs and African Union Affairs to attend the inauguration ceremony of President of the Republic of Mauritania Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz.

In February 2008, visit by Mr. Ambassador Mohamed Badr al-Din Zayed Assistant Foreign Minister for Arab Affairs for consultation in the framework of the memorandum of understanding between the foreign ministries of the two countries.

In May 2008, the second session of the Joint Committee of Fisheries and Fisheries Development

In November 2006, the first session of the joint Egyptian-Mauritania was held in Cairo

 

 

Economic Relations

In recent years, Egypt has been working towards boosting economic relations with Mauritania, along with the other African countries.

Egyptian contractors' companies are moreover working in Mauritania in the field of paving roads.

Mauritania gets support from the Egyptian fund for technical cooperation with Africa in the form of training courses in agriculture, medicine, media, police, judiciary, and the diplomatic institute.

The volume of trade exchange during the period from January to June 2009: Egyptian exports to Mauritania reached about 9 million, and 404 thousand Egyptian pounds, while the Egyptian imports from Mauritania reached 4 million 636 thousand Egyptian pounds.

The most important exports and imports between both countries:

The most important Egyptian exports are cement, dairy products, beverages and juices, drugs, home appliances, Ceramics, paper and stationery, glass and paints

The most important Egyptian imports are sardines, frozen sardines, and fish products with a total of 1165 tons

The General Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce and the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Mauritania recently signed a cooperation agreement which represents a legal framework to open the prospects of joint investment and boosting trade exchange, and pave the way for the establishment of a joint council of Egyptian businessmen and Mauritanians.

Contractual Framework

• Trade Agreement 07/04/1964

• A cultural cooperation agreement 02/02/1967

• Convention on the establishment of a joint high committee for the development of relations between Egypt and Mauritania, 8/29/1966

• Cooperation Protocol between the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Arab Republic of Egypt and the Ministry of Rural Development and Environment, Islamic Republic of Mauritania, 9/12/2001

• Protocol on cooperation in the field of maritime fishing between the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation (General Authority for Fish Wealth) Arab Republic of Egypt and the Ministry of Fishing and Maritime Economy, Islamic Republic of Mauritania, 1/30/2003

• Memorandum of understanding for cooperation between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs 12/11/2006

• Memorandum of understanding in the field of tourism 12/11/2006

• Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation in the field of administrative development 12/11/2006

• Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation between the Middle East News Agency and the Mauritanian News Agency 12/11/2006

• Executive Program for the years 2006/2009 to an agreement of cultural cooperation and technical and vocational training site in 02/02/1964 11/12/2006

• Agreement on the economic and technical cooperation 12/11/2006

• Cooperation Agreement between the General Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce and the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Mauritania 07/11/2009

 

Cultural relations

An Egyptian Cultural Center was established in Nouakchott, Mauritania in 1964. The Center has been in charge of Arabization and deepening cultural ties between Egypt and Mauritania. It organizes cultural events, both inside, such as lectures, seminars, art exhibitions, and teaching Arabic to non-speakers, and outside such as culture weeks among other things.

Thanks to the efforts of the Egyptian Cultural Center, new genres have been introduced to Mauritanian literature; e.g. the short story, the novel, the play, the essay, and literary critiques; beautiful Arabic calligraphy has spread amongst youth; and national certificates ratified in 1974 proved a success, particularly with the Center providing curriculums and organizing daily classes in science, mathematics, algebra, physics and philosophy.

 

Tourism

Within the framework of good relations between Egypt and Mauritania, the Egyptian government represented by the Tourism Authority supports the Republic of Mauritania through training many cadres in Egypt in the field of tourism.