German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul arrived in Mauritania on Tuesday, becoming the first German top diplomat to visit the country in two decades, as Berlin seeks to expand its footprint in the Sahel.
Wadephul is scheduled to meet President Mohamed Ghazouani and Foreign Minister Mohamed Merzoug in Nouakchott, where Germany and Mauritania plan to launch a joint initiative for the Sahel region. The Bundeswehr will begin advising Mauritanian security forces in 2027, and German support to the country currently stands at 275 million euros. Mauritania hosts more than 300,000 refugees from Mali. Wadephul will also visit the local UNODC office to discuss countering extremism.
The stop marks Wadephul's third African tour this year, following visits to Kenya, Ethiopia and Morocco. The tour continues to Nigeria and South Africa, where he has urged German businesses to increase investment on the continent. The diplomatic push comes weeks after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov toured Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ethiopia.