Mauritania - Mauritania has opened a new border post with Mali at Fassala Néré in the far southeast of the country. The inauguration of the post, which was built by IOM in the Hodh ech Chargui region, was attended by high ranking local authorities and Japan’s Ambassador to Mauritania Hisatsugu Shimizu.

The building is part of a Japanese-funded regional IOM project Coordinated Border Management in Niger, Mali, Mauritania and Burkina Faso, which has also constructed and equipped a border post at Doueinkara.

Situated at a few kilometers from the border with Mali, the new border post is the main entry point for travelers, including Malians trying to reach the Mbera refugee camp in Mauritania. More Malians arrive than leave and there are fears of growing strains on the limited resources, particularly water and cattle, of the semi-arid Hodh ech Chargui region.

IOM Mauritania Chief of Mission Anke Strauss noted that the Mauritanian population hosting the refugees is also vulnerable and has benefitted from two community stabilization projects funded by Japan. “These projects aim to improve resilience and provide households with more sustainable and diversified livelihoods,” she said.

“The (Japanese) funds support the efforts of the Mauritanian government to face numerous challenges, including poverty and terrorism. Japan will continue supporting the efforts of the government in partnership with international organizations,” said Ambassador Shimizu.

For further information, please contact Tomoko Sato at IOM Mauritania, Tel: +222 4938 3790, Email: tsato@iom.int