Secret Diplomacy: Nouakchott’s Stance on the Western Sahara File

An unannounced visit by Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita to Nouakchott, where he met with President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, has sparked questions regarding Mauritania’s position on the Western Sahara issue. This move, which coincided with a clandestine visit by a Mauritanian official to Morocco, follows the failure of a US-backed proposal at the UN Security Council due to a Russian veto. While Nouakchott maintains its commitment to "positive neutrality," observers such as Hamdi Yahdih and diplomat Amar Belani suggest that Rabat is attempting to sway Mauritania's stance through economic incentives and strategic arrangements. The lack of official transparency has fueled concerns over potential back-channel deals that could alter regional dynamics.