In a swift diplomatic move, Mauritania dispatched two ministerial envoys to Yaoundé within a week, each bearing sealed messages for Cameroon’s leadership. The latest visit, on June 24, saw Mauritania’s Environment Minister, Bessouda Mohamed Laghdaf, deliver a confidential letter from President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani to Cameroon’s Paul Biya. The stated goal? Securing Cameroon’s support for Coumba Bâ’s candidacy for the Secretary-General of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF).
Direct engagement and a clear agenda
Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, Cameroon’s Minister of State and Secretary-General of the Presidency, received the Mauritanian envoy in Biya’s absence. The closed-door meeting lasted about 30 minutes, with Bessouda Mohamed Laghdaf openly confirming the purpose of her mission to the press afterward.
« We carry a message from Mauritania’s President, Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, addressed to his brother, President Paul Biya, » she explained. « The sealed letter was handed to the Secretary-General of the Presidency. » Earlier, on June 18, Mauritania’s Foreign Minister, Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug, had initiated the outreach with a similar visit.
Coumba Bâ: Mauritania’s strategic candidate
The Mauritanian team is rallying behind Coumba Bâ, a senior advisor to President Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani. In her discussions, the minister positioned Bâ as a figure who could restore « balance among the Francophonie’s diverse regions, » a priority for Nouakchott in this campaign. The lobbying effort reflects a deliberate strategy to strengthen Mauritania’s diplomatic footprint ahead of the OIF vote.
Reciprocity at the core of Mauritania’s approach
This push is not without precedent. In 2025, Cameroon backed Mauritania’s successful bid for Sidi Ould Tah’s presidency at the African Development Bank (ADB). Now, Nouakchott is leveraging that goodwill to secure Cameroon’s vote for the OIF leadership.
The Mauritanian delegation is actively consulting across multiple platforms, including the Organisation de la Coopération islamique (OCI) and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), targeting influential blocs to tip the scales in Bâ’s favor. While Cameroon’s official stance remains pending, the urgency of the visits signals a high-stakes diplomatic push.