Mauritania is at the western end of the Sahel region, which stretches across northern Africa between the Sahara desert and the Sudanian Savanna
HALO opened a weapons and ammunition management project in Mauritania in 2024. Our focus is on building secure storehouses and training local people in managing weapons and ammunition securely
We’re supporting the Mauritanian Government by disposing of obsolete items safely
More on securing weapons
Situation in Mauritania
Mauritania is blessed with relative political stability compared with the rest of the region, which has several junta-led regimes
There have been a number of political conflicts in the last few decades, with coups in 1980, 1984, 2005 and 2008, and coup attempts in 1981 and 2003
Like much of West Africa, Mauritania is threatened by the overspill of political instability, Jihadist groups, and weapons smuggling in the Sahel countries to the east
Weapons in this region often originate from conflict zones like Libya, where the 2011 civil war led to a huge proliferation of arms. These weapons have been smuggled through porous borders and vast, ungoverned spaces in countries like Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, making it difficult for authorities to control
The smuggled arms range from small arms and light weapons, like AK-pattern assault rifles, machine guns and improvised explosive devices (IEDs)
The influx of weapons fuels violent extremist organizations like Boko Haram, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara. These groups use the weapons to conduct attacks, control territories, and intimidate local people
Weapon smuggling networks often overlap with other illicit activities, like drug and human trafficking. This creates a complex web of criminal enterprises that are difficult to dismantle
HALO’s work and impact in Mauritania
HALO’s work in Mauritania focuses on creating safe and secure explosive storehouses. Many of the existing weapons storage facilities have been damaged by conflict or become insecure through neglect. We’re refurbishing existing structures and building a series of new storehouses and armories
We’re also conducting a large-scale assessment or weapons and ammunition to identify what to dispose of and what should be moved to the new storehouses. We’re working with the Mauritanian authorities to mark and dispose of obsolete weapons and ammunition safely, that could otherwise be trafficked
We’re training members of the Mauritanian Army, Gendarmerie, National Guard and police force in secure handling of weapons and ammunition. We’re working with NATO to develop capacity of the Mauritanian armed forces in weapons security management. We also train security personnel to internationally-recognized standards to protect weapons from diversion into the wrong hands
HALO’s work in Mauritania is funded by:
www.nato.int(opens in new window)
Latest news from Africa
More articles
HALO programs in West Africa
Explore our programs
Donate to save lives today
Just $15 a month can make a difference
Donate
