Mauritania seeks Cameroon’s backing for oif secretary-general candidate

Mauritanian envoys visit Yaoundé in bid to secure Cameroon’s support for Coumba Bâ

Within a single week, Mauritania dispatched two high-ranking ministers to Cameroon’s capital, Yaoundé. On June 24, Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani sent Environment Minister Bessouda Mohamed Laghdaf to deliver a sealed letter to Cameroon’s President Paul Biya. The mission’s clear goal: to secure Cameroon’s endorsement for Coumba Bâ’s candidacy for the position of Secretary-General of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF).

Sealed letter, 30-minute audience, and a direct appeal

Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, Cameroon’s Minister of State and Secretary-General of the Presidency, received the Mauritanian envoy in the late afternoon on behalf of an absent President Paul Biya. The closed-door meeting lasted approximately thirty minutes, during which Bessouda Mohamed Laghdaf openly addressed the purpose of her visit.

« We carry a message from Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani addressed to his brother, President Paul Biya. We handed over this sealed letter to the Secretary-General of the Presidency, » she told reporters upon exiting the Palais de l’Unité. Earlier, on June 18, Mauritanian Foreign Minister Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug had already made the trip to Yaoundé, carrying a similar diplomatic message.

Two ministers in one week, a sealed letter addressed to Biya—these moves reflect a formal and deliberate campaign strategy. The Mauritanian delegation positioned Coumba Bâ, a Mauritanian presidential advisor, as a unifying figure capable of balancing regional interests within the OIF, as highlighted by the visiting minister.

Reciprocity in diplomatic strategy: Mauritania’s calculated move

The Mauritanian approach is not without precedent. In 2025, Cameroon supported Mauritania’s candidate, Sidi Ould Tah, in the race for the presidency of the African Development Bank (ADB). Mauritania ultimately secured the position. Now, Nouakchott is seeking to replicate that success by rallying Cameroon’s support for Coumba Bâ’s OIF bid.

Speaking to the press, the Mauritanian minister framed the request as a « win-win partnership, » underscoring the mutual benefits of cooperation between the two nations. Beyond Yaoundé, Nouakchott is actively engaging with key institutions such as the OIF, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and the Islamic Development Bank to consolidate its diplomatic efforts.

As of now, Cameroon’s official response remains pending, along with the timeline for its delivery.