French President Emmanuel Macron meets Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould El-Ghazouani in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, May 15, 2022. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann/Pool 

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks next to Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani to close the first roundtable during the "One Planet Summit" on biodiversity which is part of the World Nature Day at The Elysee Palace in Paris, France, January 11, 2021. Ludovic Marin/Pool via REUTERS 

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks next to Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani to close the first roundtable during the "One Planet Summit" on biodiversity which is part of the World Nature Day at The Elysee Palace in Paris, France, January 11, 2021. Ludovic Marin/Pool via REUTERS 

Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani and Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou, arrive for Ivory Coast's President inauguration ceremony in Abidjan, Ivory Coast December 14, 2020. REUTERS/Luc Gnago 

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez , Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani and French President Emmanuel Macron wear face masks as they leave after the closing press conference at the G5 Sahel summit in Nouakchott, Mauritania June 30, 2020. Ludovic Marin /Pool via REUTERS 

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez , Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani and French President Emmanuel Macron wear face masks as they leave after the closing press conference at the G5 Sahel summit in Nouakchott, Mauritania June 30, 2020. Ludovic Marin /Pool via REUTERS 

French President Emmanuel Macron is welcomed by Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani upon arrival at Nouakchott Oumtounsy International Airport, in Nouakchott, Mauritania June 30, 2020. Ludovic Marin/Pool via REUTERS 

Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani wears a protective mask as he walks past the honour guard upon French President Emmanuel Macron's arrival at Nouakchott Oumtounsy International Airport, in Nouakchott, Mauritania June 30, 2020. Ludovic Marin/Pool via REUTERS 

Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani wears a protective mask as he walks past the honour guard upon French President Emmanuel Macron's arrival at Nouakchott Oumtounsy International Airport, in Nouakchott, Mauritania June 30, 2020. Ludovic Marin/Pool via REUTERS 

Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani wears a protective mask as he walks past the honour guard upon French President Emmanuel Macron's arrival at Nouakchott Oumtounsy International Airport, in Nouakchott, Mauritania June 30, 2020. Ludovic Marin/Pool via REUTERS 

French President Emmanuel Macron is welcomed by Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani and military officials upon arrival at Nouakchott Oumtounsy International Airport, in Nouakchott, Mauritania June 30, 2020. Ludovic Marin/Pool via REUTERS 

French President Emmanuel Macron is welcomed by Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani upon arrival at Nouakchott Oumtounsy International Airport, in Nouakchott, Mauritania June 30, 2020. Ludovic Marin/Pool via REUTERS 

French President Emmanuel Macron walks with Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani upon arrival at Nouakchott Oumtounsy International Airport, in Nouakchott, Mauritania June 30, 2020. Ludovic Marin/Pool via REUTERS 

French President Emmanuel Macron walks with Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani upon arrival at Nouakchott Oumtounsy International Airport, in Nouakchott, Mauritania June 30, 2020. Ludovic Marin/Pool via REUTERS 

French President Emmanuel Macron is welcomed by Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani upon arrival at Nouakchott Oumtounsy International Airport, in Nouakchott, Mauritania June 30, 2020. Ludovic Marin/Pool via REUTERS 

French President Emmanuel Macron is welcomed by Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani upon arrival at Nouakchott Oumtounsy International Airport, in Nouakchott, Mauritania June 30, 2020. Ludovic Marin/Pool via REUTERS 

British actress Emma Watson (R) and Mauritanian activist Aissata Lam pose for a family photo following a meeting on gender equality at the Elysee Palace, in Paris, France February 19, 2019. Yoan Valat/Pool via REUTERS 

Mauritanian president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz and his wife Tekber Mint Melainine Ould Ahmed arrive at the official dinner at the Orsay Museum, as part of the commemoration ceremony for Armistice Day, 100 years after the end of the First World War, in Paris, France, November 10, 2018. Ian Langsdon/Pool via REUTERS 

Researchers from the Mauritanian Oceanography and Fisheries Research Institute (IMROP) sample seawater off the coast of Nouadhibou, the main port in Mauritania, April 14, 2018. Picture taken April 14, 2018. To match Special Report OCEANS-TIDE/SARDINELLA REUTERS/Sylvain Cherkaoui 

The Amrigue, a research vessel used by the Mauritanian Oceanography and Fisheries Research Institute (IMROP), operates off the coast of Nouadhibou, the main port in Mauritania, April 14, 2018. Picture taken April 14, 2018. To match Special Report OCEANS-TIDE/SARDINELLA REUTERS/Sylvain Cherkaoui 

An aerial view of the research catamaran Amrigue, used by the Mauritanian Oceanography and Fisheries Research Institute (IMROP), at anchor off the coast of Nouadhibou, the main port in Mauritania, April 14, 2018. Picture taken April 14, 2018. To match Special Report OCEANS-TIDE/SARDINELLA REUTERS/Sylvain Cherkaoui 

Fans watch a football match, sponsored by Mauritanian fish-processing and fishmeal company Omaurci SA, in Nouadhibou, Mauritania, April 14, 2018. Picture taken April 14, 2018. To match Special Report OCEANS-TIDE/SARDINELLA REUTERS/Sylvain Cherkaoui 

Football players celebrate after winning a match, sponsored by Mauritanian fish-processing and fishmeal company Omaurci SA, in Nouadhibou, Mauritania, April 14, 2018. Picture taken April 14, 2018. To match Special Report OCEANS-TIDE/SARDINELLA REUTERS/Sylvain Cherkaou 

Abel Aziz Boughourbal, manager of Mauritanian fish-processing and fishmeal company Omaurci SA, presents a trophy to football players after a match sponsored by the company in Nouadhibou, Mauritania, April 14, 2018. Picture taken April 14, 2018. To match Special Report OCEANS-TIDE/SARDINELLA REUTERS/Sylvain Cherkaoui 

Senegalese musician Youssou N'Dour (L) and Mauritanian film maker Abderrahmane Sissako speak during the inauguration of Alliance Francaise in Lagos, Nigeria, July 4, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / LUDOVIC MARIN 

From L-R, Mauritanian film maker Abderrahmane Sissako, Senegalese musician Youssou N'Dour, Beninese singer Angelique Kidjo and Nigerian musician Femi Kuti pose at a hotel in Lagos, Nigeria, July 4, 2018. Ludovic Marin/Pool via Reuters 

French President Emmanuel Macron (C) poses with Nobel Literature prize holder Wole Soyinka (2ndL), Senegalese musician Youssou N'Dour (L), Governor of Lagos Akinwunmi Ambode (2ndR) and Mauritanian film maker Abderrahmane Sissako during the inauguration of Alliance Francaise in Lagos, Nigeria, July 4, 2018. Ludovic Marin/Pool via Reuters 

French President Emmanuel Macron (L) speaks next to Mauritanian film director Abderrahmane Sissako at the Afrika Shrine in Lagos, Nigeria, July 3, 2018. Picture taken July 3, 2018. Ludovic Marin/Pool via Reuters 

Mauritanian Army soldiers stand on duty during the African Union (AU) Summit in Nouakchott, Mauritania, July 2, 2018. Ludovic Marin/Pool via Reuters 

(From L) Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, French President Emmanuel Macron, Chad's President Idriss Deby, Burkina Faso's President Roch Marc Christian Kabore, Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou and Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita from de G5 Sahel joint force holds a working session of the G5 Sahel "College de defense du G5 Sahel" CDS meeting in Nouakchott, Mauritania, July 2, 2018. Lukdovic Marin/Pool via Reuters 

French President Emmanuel Macron salutes a woman Mauritanian official upon his arrival at Nouakchott where he will attend the African Union (AU) summit, in Mauritania, July 2, 2018. Macron, making an exceptional appearance at an African Union (AU) summit, was expected to discuss hurdles facing a five-nation French-backed anti-terror unit, the "G5 Sahel" force. Ludovic Marin/Pool via Reuters?? 

Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou, Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz and Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, arrive to attend the One Planet Summit in Boulogne-Billancourt, near Paris, France December 12, 2017. REUTERS/Ludovic Marin/Pool 

Soccer Football - Al Ahly v Al-Faisaly - Arab Club Championship Semi final - Borg El Arab Stadium, Alexandria, Egypt - August 2, 2017 - Players of Egypt's Al Ahly argue with Mauritanian referee Ali Lemghaifry during the game after a yellow card. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh 

Soccer Football - Al Ahly v Al-Faisaly - Arab Club Championship Semi final - Borg El Arab Stadium, Alexandria, Egypt - August 2, 2017 - Mauritanian referee Ali Lemghaifry stops argument between players of Egypt's Al Ahly and Jordan's Al-Faisaly in the game. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh 

Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz talks with French President Emmanuel Macron during G5 Sahel summit at the presidential palace of Koulouba in Bamako, Mali, July 2, 2017. REUTERS/Luc Gnago 

French President Emmanuel Macron talks with Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz during a G5 Sahel summit, in Bamako, Mali July 2, 2017. REUTERS/Christophe Archambault/Pool 

Chad's president Idriss Deby Itno speaks with French President Emmanuel Macron as they gather with Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, President of Burkina Faso Roch Marc Christian Kabore, Niger's President Mahamadou Issoufou and Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz for a meeting during a G5 Sahel summit, in Bamako, Mali July 2, 2017. REUTERS/Christophe Archambault/Pool 

French President Francois Hollande (R) welcomes Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz upon his arrival for the inauguration of the exhibition "Tresors de l'Islam en Afrique. De Tombouctou à Zanzibar" (Islam's treasures in Africa. From Timbuktu to Zanzibar" at the Arab World Institute (Institut du Monde Arabe, IMA) in Paris, France, April 13, 2017. REUTERS/Geoffroy Van der Hasselt/Pool 

(From L) French President Francois Hollande, Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and Burkina Faso's President Roch Marc Christian Kabore during the inauguration of the exhibition "Tresors de l'Islam en Afrique. De Tombouctou à Zanzibar" (Islam's treasures in Africa. From Timbuktu to Zanzibar" at the Arab World Institute (Institut du Monde Arabe, IMA) in Paris, France, April 13, 2017. REUTERS/Geoffroy Van der Hasselt/Pool 

French President Francois Hollande (C) shakes hands with Burkina Faso's President Roch Marc Christian Kaborr (R), next to Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz (L), Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita (2nd R) after delivering a speech during a visit at the exhibition "Tresors de l'Islam en Afrique. De Tombouctou à Zanzibar" (Islam's treasures in Africa. From Timbuktu to Zanzibar" at the Arab World Institute (Institut du Monde Arabe, IMA) in Paris, France, April 13, 2017. REUTERS/Geoffroy Van der Hasselt/Pool 

French President Francois Hollande (R) looks at the view with Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz after visiting the exhibition "Tresors de l'Islam en Afrique. De Tombouctou à Zanzibar" (Islam's treasures in Africa. From Timbuktu to Zanzibar" at the Arab World Institute (Institut du Monde Arabe, IMA) in Paris, France, April 13, 2017. REUTERS/Geoffroy Van der Hasselt/Pool 

French President Francois Hollande (C) shakes hands with Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz (R) after delivering a speech during a visit at the exhibition "Tresors de l'Islam en Afrique. De Tombouctou à Zanzibar" (Islam's treasures in Africa. From Timbuktu to Zanzibar" at the Arab World Institute (Institut du Monde Arabe, IMA) in Paris, France, April 13, 2017. At L, Head of the the Arab World Institute (IMA) Jack Lang. REUTERS/Geoffroy Van der Hasselt/Pool 

A Mauritanian registered plane is seen on the tarmac of the Banjul International Airport, Gambia January 21, 2017. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde 

At a rocky outpost in Western Sahara, a new generation of soldiers who have never known war are mobilising as tensions resurface in one of Africa's oldest disputes after a quarter century of uneasy peace. Young Sahrawi troops man new desert posts for the Polisario Front, which for more than 40 years has sought independence for the vast desert region - first in a guerrilla war against Morocco and then politically since a ceasefire deal in 1991. Now a standoff with Morocco, which controls the majority of Western Sahara, is renewing pressure for a diplomatic solution to ensure foot soldiers don't return to fighting as the last generation of commanders once did. The standoff since August has brought Moroccan and Polisario forces within 200 metres of each other in a narrow strip of land near the Mauritanian border. Rich in phosphate, Western Sahara has been contested since 1975 when Spanish colonial powers left. Morocco claimed the territory and fought the 16-year war with Polisario. REUTERS/ Zohra Bensemra SEARCH ÒPOLISARIOÓ FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY Matching text: WESTERNSAHARA-DISPUTE/

Mauritanian filmmaker Abderrahmane Sissako (L) of Mauritania and French filmmaker Regis Wargnier attend the opening of the Lumiere Grand Lyon film festival in Lyon, France, October 12, 2015. REUTERS/Robert Pratta 

Mauritanian filmmaker Abderrahmane Sissako (L) of Mauritania and French filmmaker Regis Wargnier gesture for photographers at the opening of the Lumiere Grand Lyon film festival in Lyon, France, October 12, 2015. REUTERS/Robert Pratta 

Mauritania's President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz (2nd L) meets with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (not pictured) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China September 15, 2015. REUTERS/Lintao Zhang/Pool 

Mauritania's President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz (3rd L) meets with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (3rd R) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China September 15, 2015. REUTERS/Lintao Zhang/Pool 

Mauritania's President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz (L) shakes hands with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China September 15, 2015. REUTERS/Lintao Zhang/Pool 

Mauritania's President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz (L) shakes hands with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China September 15, 2015. REUTERS/Lintao Zhang/Pool 

Spanish Defence Minister Pedro Morenes (L) talks with the representative of Mauritanian Minister of Defence Mohamed Bachir Weld El-Hadj during a family photograph session at the 5+5 Summit of Defense Ministers in Tunis, Tunisia June 9, 2015. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi

(From L to R) Spanish Defence Minister Pedro Morenes, the representative of Mauritanian Minister of Defence Mohamed Bachir Weld El-Hadj, Algerian secretary general of the ministry of National Defence Major General Mohamed Zenakhri, Tunisian Defence Minister Farhat Horchani, Italian Defence Minister Roberta Pinotti, French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, Portuguese Minister of Defence Jose Pedro Aguiar-Branco and Moroccan Minister Delegate for National Defense Abdellatif Loudiyi pose during a family photograph session at the 5+5 Summit of Defense Ministers in Tunis, Tunisia June 9, 2015. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi 

Members of the Mauritanian special forces dance after a training session during Flintlock 2015, a U.S.-led military exercise, in Mao, Chad, February 21, 2015. Picture taken February 21, 2015. REUTERS/Emmanuel Braun (CHAD - Tags: MILITARY POLITICS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) 

A Spanish soldier trains Mauritanian special forces during Flintlock 2015, a U.S. led military exercise, in Mao, Chad, February 21, 2015. Picture taken February 21, 2015. REUTERS/Emmanuel Braun (CHAD - Tags: MILITARY POLITICS) 

Members of the Mauritanian special forces run in the bush during Flintlock 2015, a U.S.-led military exercise, in Mao, Chad, February 21, 2015. Picture taken February 21, 2015. REUTERS/Emmanuel Braun (CHAD - Tags: MILITARY POLITICS) 

Iraq's Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari (R) meets with his Kuwaiti counterpart Sabah Al-Khalid al-Sabah (2nd R) and Arab League Secretary-General Nabil El-Araby (L) and his Mauritanian counterpart Ahmed Teguedi in Baghdad October 19, 2014. REUTERS/Ahmed Saad (IRAQ - Tags: POLITICS) 

A conveyor belt used to transport iron ore to a ship is seen at SNIM headquarters in the port of Nouadhibou June 26, 2014. Mauritania's SNIM iron ore mining company aims to produce 13 million tonnes in 2014, around the same level as last year, the majority state-owned firm said. SNIM mines black iron ore in the northern town of Zouerate, a remote desert location which nevertheless attracts people from all over the country looking for work. SNIM employees proudly call their firm the lung of their nation's economy and the train that ferries the ore to the coast stretches some two kilometres, making it one of the world's longest. Picture taken June 26, 2014. REUTERS/Joe Penney (MAURITANIA - Tags: BUSINESS COMMODITIES ENVIRONMENT SOCIETY EMPLOYMENT TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

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A worker welds a train car at a SNIM workshop in Nouadhibou June 26, 2014. Mauritania's SNIM iron ore mining company aims to produce 13 million tonnes in 2014, around the same level as last year, the majority state-owned firm said. SNIM mines black iron ore in the northern town of Zouerate, a remote desert location which nevertheless attracts people from all over the country looking for work. SNIM employees proudly call their firm the lung of their nation's economy and the train that ferries the ore to the coast stretches some two kilometres, making it one of the world's longest. Picture taken June 26, 2014. REUTERS/Joe Penney (MAURITANIA - Tags: BUSINESS COMMODITIES ENVIRONMENT SOCIETY EMPLOYMENT)

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A passenger on a SNIM train carrying iron ore and mine workers waits for transport after arriving in Nouadhibou June 25, 2014. Mauritania's SNIM iron ore mining company aims to produce 13 million tonnes in 2014, around the same level as last year, the majority state-owned firm said. SNIM mines black iron ore in the northern town of Zouerate, a remote desert location which nevertheless attracts people from all over the country looking for work. SNIM employees proudly call their firm the lung of their nation's economy and the train that ferries the ore to the coast stretches some two kilometres, making it one of the world's longest. Picture taken June 25, 2014. REUTERS/Joe Penney (MAURITANIA - Tags: BUSINESS COMMODITIES ENVIRONMENT SOCIETY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY EMPLOYMENT)


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