OIC Leadership: Mauritania’s Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed has been elected Secretary-General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, taking over from Hissein Brahim Taha after an extraordinary council session in Jeddah—an important diplomatic win with potential spillovers for regional economic and trade coordination. Development Finance: Saudi Fund for Development chief Sultan bin Abdulrahman Al-Murshid signed a $40m loan in Nouakchott to support new institutes in key fields, while also highlighting long-running Saudi-Mauritania cooperation, including major agricultural and land-reclamation work. World Bank/IFAD Cooperation: Mauritania’s economy and finance ministers met World Bank leadership and discussed priorities ranging from agriculture and fisheries support to pre-school education goals, alongside World Bank/IFC visits to SNIM in Nouakchott. Energy & Industry Partnerships: The energy minister held talks in Algeria with Sonatrach and Sonelgaz on hydrocarbons, electricity and training—aiming to deepen bilateral investment and skills transfer. Water Infrastructure: President Ghazouani inaugurated a river-water treatment system for Boghe, financed by the state (MRO 200m), boosting local water supply capacity. Regional Trade & Security: A US military delegation visited Dakhla port as Washington deepens Sahara engagement, while Mauritania continues “positive neutrality” in Polisario contacts without approving requests for a permanent presence.