From 24 – 28 June 2024, the NATO Defense College (NDC) successfully delivered the third edition of the Generals, Flag Officers and Ambassadors’ Course for Partners – Sahel (GFOAC-P Sahel) at the G5 Sahel Defense College (G5SDC) in Nouakchott, Mauritania.
Organised with our Mauritanian partners, the GFOAC-P Sahel contributes to strengthening NATO’s ongoing cooperation with Mauritania, a robust and long-standing NATO Mediterranean Dialogue Partner since 1995, by delivering an academic programme on NATO in the current security environment. The event also reinforces engagement with representatives from the wider region. It is made possible with the support of NATO’s Defence Capacity Building (DCB) Package for Mauritania. This Package was endorsed by the Heads of State and Government at the NATO 2022 Madrid Summit.
The one-week event consisted of two parts. The first two-day module, “Discovery of NATO” was tailored for course members of the regular course of the G5SDC and its faculty. This was followed by a high-level seminar for senior military and civilian officials.
The event welcomed regular course members from Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Chad and Niger, as well as seminar participants from Morocco, Tunisia, UAE, and for the first time, Nigeria. In total, around 80 officials and students attended the seminar.
Following opening remarks by the Director of the G5SDC, Brigadier General Aba Babty El Hadj Ahmed, and the Commandant of the NDC, Lieutenant General Max Nielsen, the high-level seminar was then officially opened by the Chief of the General Staff of Mauritania, Major General El Moctar Bolle Chaabane. Also in attendance were representatives of Mauritanian ministries and institutes and the Ambassadors of Spain, Morocco, Italy, Turkiye, Egypt and Algeria, as well as many defence attachés.
Lectures by well-known academics and experts were delivered remotely from Rome and facilitated and moderated by NDC Faculty Advisors on site in Nouakchott. Topics included the history, tasks and organization of NATO, deterrence and defence, the current security challenges, strategic competition in various regions including the Sahel, perceptions, and the importance of communication and information.
During the Q&A and daily consolidation sessions, the participants engaged in lively debates expressing their commitment and preoccupation with global and regional security issues and their consequences for the Sahel Region. These sessions offered a unique opportunity to meet and exchange differing views, enhance understanding of common problems, and strengthen cooperation within the region and with NATO. The discussions contribute to a better understanding of NATO, and supports the promotion of common values and intellectual interoperability.
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NATO Defense College