Has a President of India visited Mauritania?

President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu paid the first-ever State visit to Nouakchott on 16 October 2024, and four bilateral agreements were signed during the visit.

When were the first India-Mauritania Foreign Office Consultations held?

The first ever FOCs were held on 22 March 2024 in Nouakchott, during an official visit by a delegation led by Secretary (ER).

India and Mauritania: diplomatic relations and milestones

This article covers the political relationship between India and Mauritania: the establishment of diplomatic relations, the first State visit by a President of India in October 2024, other official visits in both directions, the Foreign Office Consultations, and the agreements the two countries have signed. It is based on the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) brief on India-Mauritania relations dated 10 April 2026.

Diplomatic relations

According to the MEA brief of April 2026, India and Mauritania established diplomatic relations on 22 October 1965. The brief states that both countries have a democratic form of governance and have enjoyed cordial and friendly relations since Mauritania's independence.

State visit by the President of India, October 2024

President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu paid what the brief describes as the first-ever historic State visit to Nouakchott, Mauritania, on 16 October 2024. She held delegation level talks with the President of the Republic of Mauritania, who hosted a banquet dinner in her honour, and the Foreign Minister of Mauritania paid a courtesy call on her.

Four bilateral agreements were signed during the visit:

Bilateral visa waiver agreements for holders of diplomatic and official passports
Protocol on Foreign Office Consultations
MoU between SSIFS and Mauritanian FSI
Cultural Exchange Programme 2024-2028

Visit by Secretary (ER) and the first Foreign Office Consultations

A three-member delegation led by Secretary (ER) paid an official visit to Nouakchott on 21-22 March 2024. Secretary (ER) called on the President, H.E. Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, on the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Mauritanians Abroad, and on the Minister of Agriculture. The brief records this as the first ever visit by an Indian official at the Secretary level since the establishment of diplomatic relations in October 1965.

During the visit, issues of mutual interest were discussed, including engagement in the fields of economic cooperation, trade & investment and capacity building. Secretary (ER) also jointly addressed the inaugural session of the first bilateral Foreign Office Consultations (FOCs).

The first ever FOCs were held on 22 March 2024 in Nouakchott, jointly led by AS (C&WA) and his counterpart, Director General Mohamed El Hanchi Kettab of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations, particularly in the areas of economic cooperation, and exchanged views on multilateral issues and developments in the Sahel region.

Visits from Mauritania

At the invitation of the Prime Minister of India, the President of Mauritania, accompanied by a high level ministerial and official delegation, attended the 3rd India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-III) in New Delhi in October 2015.

At the invitation of India's Defence Minister, the Defence Minister of Mauritania participated in the India-Africa Defence Dialogue (IADD) on the sidelines of Def Expo, held from 18-22 October 2022 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The two Ministers held bilateral discussions.

Voice of Global South Summits

Mauritanian ministers have taken part in the Voice of Global South Summits hosted by India:

The Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of Mauritania joined the 1st virtual Voice of Global South Summit on 13 January 2023.
The then Minister of Health, Ms. Naha Mint Hamdi Ould Mouknass, participated in the 2nd Voice of Global South Summit, held in virtual mode on 17 November 2023.
Dr. Yacoub Moine, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, participated in the 3rd VOGSS 3.0 Education Session held virtually by India, sharing his video message for the session on 17 August 2024.

Other official visits and meetings

2nd Policymakers' visit, 16-19 June 2025: Mr. Cheikh Baye Mkheitiratt, Advisor to the Minister of Health, and Mr. Hamahoullah Cheikh Ahmed Vall, Director General, Central Purchasing Office for Essential Medicine and Medical Consumables, visited India on full hospitality sponsored by India.
International Solar Alliance, 2-4 September 2025: Mr. Zakeriyaou Soumare, Director of Renewable Energy, Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, attended the Seventh Meeting of the ISA Regional Committee for the Africa Region in Accra, Ghana.
Biosecurity conference, 1-2 December 2025: Mr. Ishagh Mohamed Moussa, President of the National Authority for Radiation Protection, Safety and Nuclear Security (ARSN), Prime Minister Office, participated in an International Conference on the BWC and strengthening biosecurity in the Global South, organised by the Ministry of External Affairs.
India-Arab Foreign Ministers' Meeting, 31 January 2026: a three member delegation led by H.E. Houssein DEH, Ambassador of Mauritania to Cairo and Permanent delegate to the League of Arab States, participated in the 2nd India-Arab Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Delhi.