NOUAKCHOTT, March 2, 2026 – The media launch has officially begun. A press dinner bringing together nearly forty media representatives this weekend in Nouakchott marked the official start of preparations for the Regional Marine and Coastal Forum, scheduled to take place next April in the Mauritanian capital.
Media executives, local journalists, and international correspondents responded to the invitation in what was described as a “rich and constructive” atmosphere. This strong turnout reflects the growing interest already surrounding the event, which aims to bring together regional stakeholders to address the critical challenges related to the preservation of coastal and marine ecosystems in West Africa.
It was Ahmed Senhoury, Director of the Regional Partnership for the Conservation of the Coastal and Marine Zone (PRCM), who outlined the key features of the upcoming gathering. Speaking candidly, he presented the Forum’s major challenges, strategic objectives, and the main themes on the agenda. A question-and-answer session followed, allowing journalists to gain clearer insight into the expectations and ambitions driving this regional initiative.
The Director also issued a direct appeal to the media professionals in attendance: “Journalists have an essential role to play in supporting and highlighting this major event,” he stated, emphasizing the press’s responsibility in raising public awareness about maritime environmental issues.
High-Level Authorities Mobilized
The presence of several senior Mauritanian officials at the same table gave the evening a solemn and political dimension. Her Excellency Messouda Baham Mohamed Lagdhaf, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development; His Excellency El Housseynou Lam, Minister Secretary-General of the Government; and the Wali (Governor) of Nouakchott West, Hamoud Mhamed, all attended the inaugural gathering.
Their presence sends a strong signal of the Mauritanian authorities’ commitment to making the Forum both a diplomatic and environmental success, at a time when the African Atlantic region faces increasing pressure on its fisheries resources and coastlines.
Scheduled for April 2026, the Regional Marine and Coastal Forum aims to bring together policymakers, scientific experts, civil society actors, and international partners to engage in a shared reflection on the sustainable management of coastal and marine areas. Nouakchott, an Atlantic city par excellence and the capital of a country whose economy is closely tied to the sea—offers both a natural and symbolic setting for such discussions.
This press dinner has therefore fulfilled its purpose: shining a spotlight on an event whose ambitions, according to its organizers, truly match the scale of the challenges facing an entire region.
