From 27 April to 29 April 2026, the NATO Defense College (NDC) conducted the fifth edition of the Generals, Flag Officers and Ambassadors Course for Partners Sahel (GFOAC-P Sahel). Hosted by the G5 Sahel Defence College (G5SDC) in Nouakchott, Mauritania, this course strengthens NATO’s engagement in the Sahel and reaffirms its commitment to regional security and cooperation.
As a vital component of the Mediterranean Dialogue partnership, the GFOAC-P Sahel offers academic training and promotes an exchange of perspectives on the Alliance’s strategic imperatives and security priorities. Supported financially by NATO’s Defence Capacity Building (DCB) Package for Mauritania and the Defence Education Enhancement Programme (DEEP), the programme demonstrates NATO’s ongoing investment in regional stability.
The fifth edition was anchored by two key events, beginning on 27–28 April with “Découverte de l’OTAN” (Discovery of NATO), which equipped Course Members of the 8th G5SDC promotion with foundational knowledge of the Alliance’s mission, defence posture, and perspectives on the Southern Flank. This was followed on 29 April by a High-Level Seminar convening Mauritanian authorities, NATO partners (Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, and Egypt) and several non-NATO entities, including Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Chad, and Cameroon. The GFOAC-P Sahel serves a dual purpose: first, to reinforce NATO’s presence in the Sahel as part of the Southern Neighbourhood Action Plan, and second, to advance the institutional capabilities of the G5SDC by hosting strategic-level coursework directly within its own premises.
Expert-led lectures on NATO and the contemporary security environment facilitated an insightful exchange of perspectives regarding a region vital to Euro-Atlantic stability. Set against a backdrop of heightened regional volatility, the program featured high-level sessions and panel discussions led by specialists from various NATO entities, including NATO Strategic Direction South-HUB, ACT, and NATO HQ, alongside the Mauritanian Institute for Strategic Studies and the Ministry of Defence of Mauritania. The dialogues and discussions addressed pivotal strategic frameworks, such as the Alliance’s Concept for Deterrence and Defence, and explored NATO’s response to evolving terrorist threats as well as the complexities of strategic competition and military cooperation across the Sahel and the Southern Flank.
On 29 April, the GFOAC-P Sahel shifted focus to the Sahel within NATO’s security environment, featuring keynote addresses delivered in person and through digital participation by distinguished speakers. These included NDC Commandant Lieutenant General Max A.L.T. Nielsen, Director of the G5SDC Mohamed Ahmed Mahmoud Bennani, NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Southern Neighbourhood Mr. Javier Colomina, and the Mauritanian Minister of Defence, Hanana Ould Sidi.
In their addresses, the speakers emphasized that cooperative security remains one of NATO’s three core tasks, highlighting dialogue with a wide range of countries and international organizations as a vital component of the Alliance. The extensive network of partnerships enhances security beyond the Euro-Atlantic area and facilitates cooperation on global challenges. NATO’s adoption of the Action Plan for the Southern Neighbourhood signals a deeper commitment to the Sahel. As current threats are cumulative and mutually reinforcing, they directly impact collective security, making strong, enduring partnerships like the one with Mauritania essential.
Through the Defence Capacity Building package, NATO delivers multiple key initiatives of practical cooperation with Mauritania. Central to the DCB military education initiative is the successful collaboration between the G5SDC and the NDC, with the GFOAC-P Sahel serving as a primary example. Beyond offering an insightful seminar, this strategic tool facilitates shared assessments and the development of a common vision. It provides a unique forum for dialogue between Mauritania, regional partners, and the Alliance, proving that academic cooperation remains a vital asset for the future.
The NDC Commandant utilized his attendance at the GFOAC-P Sahel to engage in high-level bilateral meetings with Colonel Bennani, Director of the G5SDC, Mr Hanana Oul Sidi, of the Mauritanian Minister of Defence and the Commandant of the International War College (ESIG) in Yaoundé in Cameroun, Brigadier General Nka Valère.
By equipping future leaders with a deeper understanding of security dynamics and fostering in-depth dialogue, the GFOAC-P Sahel reinforces the enduring partnership between NATO and its partners in the Sahel. This initiative serves as a testament to a shared commitment to lasting stability and collective resilience. Direct engagement and shared insights allow for a better understanding of the challenges facing the Southern Flank and help identify pathways for mutually beneficial cooperation. The tangible partnership with Mauritania is further evidenced by their Course Members participating in the NDC’s Senior Course and the NATO Regional Cooperation Course.
NDC Public Affairs Office
(Prepared by Ms Britt Melinga, NLD C)
NATO Defense College