April 10 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Government of Mauritania assured this Tuesday that the country's Armed Forces will respond to all foreign incursions and that it has not “turned a blind eye” to border incidents, in reference to the operation of the Malian Army and the Russian paramilitary company. Wagner Group that left three injured in Mauritanian territory.
“Mauritania has not turned a blind eye to the murders of its citizens on the border, adopting all military and security measures, including awareness operations on the risks of crossing the border. In addition, our Army will respond to all foreign incursions that deliberately try to penetrate our borders,” declared the Minister of Petroleum, Energy and Mines, Nani Ould Chrougha, according to the Mauritanian state news agency, AMI.
However, he has clarified that the “geographical nature of the borders” can cause foreign troops to “inadvertently” enter their territory, something that can also happen in the opposite direction.
An incursion by the Malian Army and the Wagner Group in the southeast of Mauritania carried out last Sunday as part of an anti-jihadist operation left three civilians wounded by gunshots and resulted in four detainees, who were released after undergoing interrogation, according to the station. Radio France International (RFI).
The operation was carried out last Sunday morning in the border town of Médala, in the Hodh El Chargui region, to search for alleged members of the Support Group for Islam and Muslims (JNIM, an affiliate of Al Qaeda).
Near this area is the area known as the Wagadou forest, in Malian territory, and known for serving as a refuge for members of different jihadist groups. These types of border incidents occur regularly. In fact, two years ago a commission of inquiry was created after the death of several Mauritanian civilians.
