Today, the Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Isselkou Ould Ahmed Izid Bih, Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. The Secretary-General commended Mauritania for its support to the UN-led efforts on Western Sahara.

The Secretary-General congratulated Mauritania for its pro-active role in the promotion of regional security cooperation in the Sahel. The Secretary-General underscored the need to encourage the Malian parties to move forward in implementing the peace agreement.

He concluded by thanking the Minister for Mauritania’s contribution to UN peacekeeping and for its policy of zero tolerance for sexual exploitation by peacekeepers.