Unannounced, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune travelled this morning, 22 February, to Tindouf, in the far southwest of Algeria, where he met his Mauritanian counterpart Mohamed Ould-Cheikh El Ghezouani shortly after his arrival in the early afternoon

Algeria-Mauritania: Tebboune meets Elghezouani in Tindouf

Ghazhouani y Abdelmadjid Tebboune — Ghazhouani and Abdelmadjid Tebboune

Hichem Aboud

Updated: 23/02/24

It is customary for Algerian leaders not to announce the president's travels, either within the country or abroad, or the arrival of guests visiting Algeria. This rule has been in force since the cancellation of President Tebboune's trip to France, scheduled for 2 May 2023.

This explains why the President's trip to Tindouf was not announced by the Algerian media until after his arrival at Commandant Ferradj airport. Not even the website of the Presidency of the Republic said a word about the president's arrival and that of his Mauritanian counterpart, nor did it publish the press release that had been distributed to the Algerian press at the time of writing.

Said Chengriha, Ghazhouani y Abdelmadjid Tebboune — Said Chengriha, Ghazhouani and Abdelmadjid Tebboune

According to the government press agency (APS), the two presidents inaugurated and laid the first stone of several joint strategic projects between the two countries in this border region.

Argelia y Mauritania — Algeria-Mauritania

According to the Arabic-language daily El-Bilad, these strategic projects include two fixed border posts between Algeria and Mauritania, inaugurated shortly after the Mauritanian president's arrival. This was followed by the laying of the foundation stone of the Algerian-Mauritanian free zone and the start of work on the road linking Tindouf (Algeria) and Zouerate (Mauritania).

After this event, the two presidents are scheduled to meet for a working session between the two ministerial delegations accompanying them.

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