AGP Executive Report

Heritage & Festivals: Mauritania’s International Date Festival has wrapped up in Tidjikja, bringing cultural competitions, music, crafts and oasis displays together with efforts to promote local date farming. Faith & Education: The Ministry of Islamic Affairs has launched a project to strengthen young people’s connection to the Quran, combining the traditional Mahdhara learning system with modern approaches. Living History: In Chinguetti, Mohammed Ould Gholam Habott safeguards more than 1,400 manuscripts in his family’s library, a collection built over three centuries and counted among West Africa’s oldest. Pastoral Life: A herder from Hodh El Gharbi describes how livestock sustains family livelihoods and traditions, while shifting water and pasture availability forces communities to adapt. Support for Women and Children: A planned Nouakchott shelter and training centre for women, children and orphans has completed local administrative steps and is moving toward implementation.

Youth and Food Systems: FAO is calling for more leadership, skills and financing for young Africans in agriculture, arguing that the continent’s large youth population is an asset for food production and innovation. Support for Women and Children: A planned shelter and training center in Nouakchott for women, children and orphans has completed local administrative steps and is moving toward implementation, with accommodation, education and social support among its goals. Chinguetti’s Heritage: Mohammed Abdullah Ould Gholam Habott continues a family tradition of safeguarding more than 1,400 manuscripts at the Habott Library, including some of West Africa’s oldest texts. Pastoral Life: In eastern Mauritania, herder Ahmed Cherif describes how family traditions and a changing supply of water and pasture shape life with livestock in the Ayoune region.

Women and Children: A Nouakchott shelter and training center for women, children and orphans has completed local approvals and site selection, and is moving toward implementation with plans for accommodation, education and social support. Living Heritage: In Chinguetti, Mohammed Abdullah Ould Gholam Habott safeguards more than 1,400 manuscripts in his family’s library, a collection built over three centuries and rich in religious, linguistic and scientific texts. Pastoral Life: A Mauritanian herder’s account traces how family traditions, changing water supplies and conflict shape the choices of communities adapting to life on the move. Arabic Reading: The Arab Reading Challenge will announce its winners on October 29 after drawing more than 40 million students from 60 countries, highlighting the region’s investment in young readers and the Arabic language.

Community Support: A planned shelter and training centre in Nouakchott for women, children and orphans has completed local administrative steps and secured a site. The project aims to offer accommodation, education, job training and social support. Heritage: In Chinguetti, Mohammed Abdullah Ould Gholam Habott safeguards more than 1,400 manuscripts at his family’s library, preserving a collection built over three centuries. The texts include religious works as well as writing on language, grammar and astrology. Pastoral Life: A Mauritanian herder from the Ayoune region describes how families adapt to changing water supplies and pasture, while livestock remains central to their livelihood, traditions and community ties.

Arabic Reading: The Arab Reading Challenge will crown its 10th-edition winners in Dubai on Oct. 29, after attracting a record 40 million students across 60 countries. Chinguetti’s Living Archive: Mohammed Abdullah Ould Gholam Habott safeguards more than 1,400 manuscripts in his family’s library, a collection built over three centuries and still preserving Mauritania’s literary and religious heritage. Pastoral Traditions: In eastern Mauritania, herder Ahmed Cherif describes how livestock, water and pasture shape daily life—and how families adapt age-old practices to changing conditions.

Living Heritage: In Chinguetti, Mohammed Abdullah Ould Gholam Habott cares for more than 1,400 manuscripts in his family’s library, a collection built over three centuries and rich in religious, scientific and linguistic texts. Pastoral Traditions: A herder from Hodh El Gharbi describes how livestock, inherited knowledge and the search for water and pasture shape life in his community — and how families adapt as conditions change. Culture and Community: Mauritania’s culture minister highlighted a new atmosphere of dialogue and openness while marking the launch of projects that include two sports fields in Nouakchott. Beach Soccer: Mauritania will face Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Iraq at the Arab Beach Soccer Championship in Port Said, running November 5–10.

Culture and Public Life: Mauritania’s culture minister said the country is experiencing an unprecedented spirit of dialogue and openness, as officials launched projects including new sports fields in Nouakchott. Pastoral Life: A herder from eastern Mauritania describes how family traditions, livestock and the search for water and pasture shape daily life—and how changing conditions are pushing pastoralists to adapt. Education: Mauritania’s Higher Council for Education head is attending a UNESCO forum in Rabat on digital transformation and artificial intelligence. Beach Soccer: Mauritania is set to compete with Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Iraq in the Arab Beach Soccer Championship in November.

Culture and Civic Life: Mauritania’s culture minister described a new atmosphere of dialogue and national openness as the president launched public projects, including two sports fields and new civic institutions. Education: The head of the Higher Council for Education travelled to Rabat for a UNESCO forum on digital transformation and artificial intelligence. Pastoral Traditions: A Mauritanian herder’s account traces how family knowledge and livestock sustain livelihoods and community ties, while changing water supplies and pasture force families to adapt. Historical Recognition: Mauritania welcomed a UN declaration recognizing the slave trade as a crime, a significant acknowledgment of a painful chapter in the country’s history.

Culture and Public Life: Mauritania’s culture minister described a new spirit of national dialogue and openness at a ceremony launching projects that include two sports fields in Nouakchott. Education: The head of the Higher Council for Education is in Rabat for a UNESCO forum on digital transformation and artificial intelligence. Sport: Mauritania will face Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Iraq in Group A of the Arab Beach Soccer Championship, set for November 5–10 in Egypt. Pastoral Heritage: A herder from eastern Mauritania reflects on a way of life passed down through generations, as shifting water and pasture supplies force families to adapt while livestock remain central to their livelihoods and traditions.

Education: Mauritania and Morocco are exploring closer cooperation in education, including exchanges of expertise, after the two countries’ education ministers met in Nouakchott. Children & Families: Mauritania’s social action minister and the World Food Programme discussed joint work on malnutrition, child protection and preschool education. Nouakchott Life: A city development plan promises new schools, upgraded health facilities, 160 kilometres of paved roads and more green spaces. Heritage & Rights: Mauritania’s human rights commission welcomed a UN declaration recognizing the African slave trade as a grave crime against humanity, calling it an important step for collective memory and justice. Cultural Ties: A reception marking China’s human-resource development cooperation highlighted growing cultural exchanges and training links between China and Mauritania.

Education: Mauritania’s education minister met Morocco’s ambassador to discuss sharing expertise, as the minister also outlined a gradual plan to use AI to improve learning quality and equity. History and Rights: Mauritania welcomed a UN declaration recognizing the African slave trade as “the gravest crime against humanity,” calling it an important step for collective memory and justice. Nouakchott’s Future: A government-backed development plan promises dozens of new schools, upgraded health facilities, roads, improved water supply and green spaces across the capital.

Family & Social Care: On October 21, Mauritania’s social affairs minister and an UAE delegation discussed cooperation on women’s protection, social support and care for children with disabilities. Education: Education Minister Houda Mint Babah said Mauritania will gradually introduce AI in schools, with a focus on improving learning and equal opportunities. Rights & Memory: Mauritania welcomed a UN declaration recognizing the African slave trade as the gravest crime against humanity, calling it a milestone for collective memory and justice. Film: Doha Film Festival’s 2026 lineup includes Artou, an immersive film by Mauritanian filmmaker Abderrahmane Sissako.

Film: Mauritanian director Abderrahmane Sissako’s immersive film Artou is among the selections for the Doha Film Festival, running November 19–27. Education: Mauritania’s education minister says the country will introduce AI in schools gradually, with a focus on improving learning and equal opportunity for children. Children and Families: The social action minister discussed cooperation with the UAE and Emirates Red Crescent on women’s protection, social support and care for children with disabilities; talks with the World Food Programme also covered malnutrition, child protection and preschool education. Heritage and Rights: Mauritania welcomed a UN declaration recognizing the African slave trade as a crime against humanity, calling it an important step for collective memory and justice. Cultural Exchange: A Chinese Embassy reception marked decades of cooperation in training Mauritanian participants in China, with officials highlighting expanding cultural ties.

Film: Doha Film Festival’s 2026 lineup includes Artou, an immersive film by Mauritanian director Abderrahmane Sissako, alongside stories exploring identity, family and freedom. History and Rights: Mauritania’s human rights commission welcomed a UN declaration recognizing the African slave trade as the gravest crime against humanity, calling it a milestone for collective memory and justice. Nouakchott: A new city development program promises dozens of schools, 160 km of paved roads and new green spaces; the government also says the Press Support Fund has doubled to 400 million. Education and Children: Mauritania’s education minister says AI should help tailor learning and expand equal opportunities, while talks with the World Food Programme focused on nutrition, child protection and preschool education. Cultural Exchange: A reception in Nouakchott marked China’s 70 years of cooperation in human-resource development, highlighting training opportunities and growing cultural ties.

Public Services: Prime Minister El Moctar Ould Diay inspected health centres, the oncology centre, a health school and sports facilities in Nouakchott, urging faster work and better delivery of public services. Education & Cultural Exchange: Mauritania was among the countries represented at Parul University’s Diplomats in Dialogue forum in India, where participants discussed student exchanges, research partnerships and education’s role in building cultural understanding.

Film: Doha Film Festival’s Nov. 19–27 lineup includes Artou, an immersive film by Mauritanian director Abderrahmane Sissako. LGBTQ+ Rights: A report describes a gay Mauritanian man who had won U.S. protection from deportation to Mauritania, where he said he had been jailed and nearly killed. He was instead sent to Eswatini and later crossed into Senegal, where the report says penalties for same-sex relations have recently increased.