Mauritania’s ambassador to the United States has firmly denied claims that President Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani is planning to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to Washington, calling the reports “fake news.”
Ambassador Cisse Mint Cheikh Ould Boide told Sahara Media that she had no knowledge of any such coordination and emphasized that only the president’s official communications team is authorized to issue statements during his foreign trips.
The rumors emerged on July 9, amid U.S. media reports suggesting that the White House was exploring the possibility of brokering a quiet meeting between Ghazouani and Netanyahu, as part of President Donald Trump’s renewed effort to expand the Abraham Accords—his signature initiative to normalize ties between Israel and Arab or Muslim-majority countries.
Ghazouani is currently in Washington attending a scaled-down U.S.-Africa summit alongside leaders from Gabon, Senegal, Liberia, Guinea-Bissau, and Mauritania. Sources cited by Semafor said the idea of a side meeting had been floated, but nothing confirmed.
Mauritania, a member of the Arab League, cut ties with Israel in 2010 following the Gaza War (Operation Cast Lead). The rupture ended over a decade of diplomatic engagement that began in the late 1990s, when Mauritania became one of only three Arab League countries to formally recognize Israel. That era saw limited cooperation in sectors such as mining and telecoms but faced widespread public opposition.
The 2008–09 Gaza war turned the relationship into a domestic liability for the ruling elite. Mauritania first froze ties and later expelled Israeli diplomats, aligning with strong public support for Palestine.
While Trump’s return to office has sparked speculation about another wave of normalization deals across Africa and the Arab world, analysts believe Mauritania is unlikely to join under current conditions.
“Given the situation in Gaza and domestic sensitivities, I do not expect Mauritania to move toward normalization anytime soon,” said political analyst Mohamadou Cheikh Ly. “Public opposition remains strong, and this issue carries real political risks.”
Mauritania is one of nine African countries that do not currently recognize Israel or have suspended relations. Others include Algeria, Somalia, Libya, Tunisia, and Mali.
On social media, several Mauritanians voiced outrage at the rumors, warning that any overture toward Israel would be politically disastrous for President Ghazouani. Neither the White House nor the Mauritanian presidency has commented publicly.