Mauritania is preparing to resume its diplomatic relations with the Israeli occupation after a break that has lasted nearly 15 years.
This development was reported by the American outlet Semafor, citing a source familiar with the arrangements, who confirmed that the step will take place during a meeting at the White House mediated by U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday.
According to the report, Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani is expected to hold an official meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the sidelines of a mini U.S.–Africa summit that will include leaders from five West African nations: Senegal, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, and Mauritania.
The summit, hosted by Trump in Washington and running until 11 July, marks his first major political move in African affairs since his return to the White House.
Mauritania had established full diplomatic relations with Israel in 1999 but severed them in March 2010 following Israel’s aggression on Gaza in 2009. Since then, Nouakchott has officially maintained a policy of non-normalisation, despite reports of unofficial channels of communication in recent years.
The anticipated meeting between Ghazouani and Netanyahu would be the first direct contact at this level between the two countries in a decade and a half, potentially paving the way for a formal restoration of ties in the coming months.
This step comes as part of a broader push by the Trump administration to reshape its relationships with African nations through a focus on “economic development and investments,” rather than the “traditional aid” approach favoured by previous administrations.
According to the report, U.S. officials have said that diplomatic success on the continent is now measured by the number of trade deals secured by ambassadors, rather than by development reports or official visits.
The report also noted that the upcoming meeting between Mauritania and the Israeli occupation represents a key element of this summit’s arrangements. President Trump aims to replicate his earlier push to steer Arab and African states towards normalisation with Israel — effectively a new version of the “Abraham Accords,” but with an economic and commercial façade this time.
While the Mauritanian government has yet to comment officially on the details of the meeting, this move could provoke significant reactions within Mauritania and the wider Arab world — especially amid escalating tensions due to Israel’s ongoing aggression on Gaza since October 2023. This could complicate Ghazouani’s efforts to secure domestic approval for the agreement.
