Mauritania Gold Watch: Raminvest Holding says it is moving Wompou Gold Project in Mauritania into drilling after sampling returned assays up to 50.14 g/t and six priority targets (T-01 to T-06) were defined for first-pass drill testing, with field verification and regulatory approvals next. Energy & Trade Diplomacy: Mauritania’s economy and sustainable development minister met the World Bank’s resident representative in Nouakchott to discuss cooperation on economic development, while the economy minister also met ESCWA’s executive secretary to explore projects on training, economic modelling and digital initiatives. Water Infrastructure Finance: Mauritania’s cabinet approved a financing agreement with the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development for the Gouraye–Kiffa water supply project, with Abu Dhabi’s contribution set at $30m (MRO 10bn) and other Arab/Islamic financial institutions involved. EU Migration Links: New EU Agency for Asylum data shows asylum applications in Europe fell to a five-year low in the first half of 2026, citing EU cooperation with origin and transit countries including Mauritania. Maritime Security & Costs: MARSEC warned that disruptions tied to piracy and migration shifts could create a security vacuum in the Gulf of Guinea, while trade rerouting is pushing up freight costs and insurance, raising fuel prices. Regional Security Context: A week of coverage also highlighted the wider post-9/11 security shift in Africa and the evolving jihadist threat landscape, relevant to regional stability planning.