A new military unit is being established in Mauritania with the support of Czech soldiers, as part of NATO’s growing focus on security in the Sahel region. For the Czech Republic, this initiative marks its only military presence in the Sahel since the withdrawal of its trainers from Mali. The mission has been praised by the country’s President Petr Pavel, who is visiting Mauritania this week.
During his trip to Nouakchott, President Pavel — a former general and ex-NATO leader — highlighted Mauritania’s relative stability in a region often marked by unrest. Around twenty Czech soldiers are currently involved in the formation of this new Mauritanian army unit under NATO’s framework.
The goal of the mission is to prepare Mauritanian forces to respond to terrorist threats, fight criminal groups, and counter the influence of hostile powers in the Sahel, particularly Russia, according to the officer leading the training.
The Czech Parliament authorized the deployment of up to 30 soldiers for this mission, which officially started in January. Previously, Czech forces contributed to the European Union’s training mission in Mali and supported the French-led Takuba Task Force before its disbandment. The current training program is expected to continue until the end of next year.