The General Staff of the Mauritanian Armed Forces addressed on March 23 reports concerning the deaths of Mauritanian citizens allegedly at the hands of Malian Army personnel near the Hodh el Gharbi region. The statement, published on the Army’s official website, emphasized the need for accuracy in reporting incidents affecting national security.
According to the statement, an armed contingent consisting of five vehicles and twenty motorcycles entered the Malian village of Yakna—approximately 12 kilometres from the Mauritanian border and 40 kilometres from the Mauritanian village of Beighideida—on the morning of March 20. Upon arrival, the force arrested three Mauritanians and one Malian, all of whom were later found dead.
The General Staff clarified that the Mauritanian Armed Forces had deployed units along the border and that the incident occurred entirely on Malian territory, 12 kilometres from the national frontier. This detail underlines that the deaths did not occur within Mauritanian sovereign territory.
Authorities called on citizens and the media to exercise caution and responsibility in disseminating security information, noting that inaccurate reports could escalate tensions or create confusion. The statement reaffirmed the Armed forces’ commitment to protecting Mauritanian citizens.
The command stressed that it remains vigilant along the border to maintain security and sovereignty, highlighting readiness to respond to any threats or cross-border incidents. The Mauritanian military continues to monitor developments and to coordinate with relevant authorities to ensure national safety.
