UNOCT delivers a Training Course for Mauritania on Countering Terrorist Cyber-Attacks against Maritime, Port and Energy Infrastructure
A three-day training course was held in Nouakchott, from 29 to 31 October 2025, as part of the engagement of the United Nations Office of Counter Terrorism (UNOCT) with the government of Mauritania. This second workshop was organized by the United Nations Global Programme on Countering Terrorist Threats against Vulnerable Targets in collaboration with the Global Counter-Terrorism Programme on Cybersecurity and New Technologies.
The course aimed to strengthen national capacities in Mauritania for the protection of maritime, port and energy infrastructure against terrorist cyber threats. It brought Mauritanian government representatives and national security agencies together with international experts from the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH), academia, and the private sector.
The training activity built on the national Roadmap for the protection of vulnerable targets, which was jointly developed by the Mauritanian authorities, UNOCT, and the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED). Launched in 2024, the Roadmap identified key priorities in maritime security, crisis management, and the protection of critical energy infrastructure. Subsequently, the first specialized training for Mauritania took place on 14-16 April 2025, focusing on strengthening the physical protection of hydrocarbon facilities and enhancing maritime and port security against terrorist threats.
The opening session of this second course featured the Ambassador Director of European Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mauritania, the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Spain, and the Chief of the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Mauritania, who all stressed the importance of international cooperation to tackle complex security challenges.
Over three days, participants examined critical issues, including various perspectives on cybersecurity for the protection of hydrocarbon and energy facilities in the maritime context. Sessions highlighted good practices for cyber crisis management, cyber incident response, and the key role of inter-agency coordination to better protect critical infrastructure.
A key moment of the course was a national tabletop crisis management exercise simulating a terrorist cyber-attack on a port to test coordination between port shipping response teams and national security authorities. Participants were assigned to working groups, each representing a specific ministry or an agency to practice strategic decision-making and operational coordination in response to complex scenarios.
The training emphasized the importance of regional and international cooperation, particularly for information sharing, joint trainings, and technical assistance. Experts shared insights on integrated approaches to regional threats and the importance of effective threat monitoring systems.
The course concluded with an interactive discussion to identify the technical assistance needed to advance the implementation of the Roadmap guiding Mauritania’s efforts to prevent and counter terrorist threats against vulnerable targets.
This initiative is part of a project generously funded by the Kingdom of Spain.
