Press release
The Mauritanian Journalists’ Union commits to strengthening the integration of national languages in the media
Nouakchott, 10 July 2026 — On Thursday, the headquarters of the Mauritanian Journalists’ Union hosted a consultation meeting between Union President Ahmed Salem Sidi Abdallah and media professionals working in the national languages.
A first: a secretariat for national languages
For the first time since its establishment, the Mauritanian Journalists’ Union announced the creation of a secretariat responsible for national languages. It will represent journalists working in Pulaar, Soninke and Wolof and work to ensure that their issues and concerns are included among the Union’s priorities.
Opening address by the Union President
Opening the meeting, the Union President stressed “the vital importance of national languages in strengthening national unity and consolidating cultural diversity in Mauritania”.
He added: “It has become essential for national languages to occupy the place they deserve in today’s media landscape, in both public and private media.”
Main issues raised by journalists
During the discussion, journalists working in the national languages outlined their main challenges, including:
- Limited airtime for programmes in national languages in public and private media.
- A shortage of qualified personnel and technical resources.
- Insufficient production of suitable, high-quality media content.
- The absence of continuing training programmes for journalists in national-language departments.
- Unequal treatment of successful candidates from different language communities in the High Authority for the Press and Audiovisual Media’s competition.
Union commitments
In response to these challenges, the President set out a series of commitments on behalf of the Executive Board, notably:
- Work with the relevant authorities, the government and the High Authority for the Press and Audiovisual Media to find urgent, sustainable solutions to the various issues raised.
- Include the effective integration of national languages among the Union’s strategic priorities for the current term.
- Launch a continuing training programme for journalists working in national languages, similar to those provided for Arabic- and French-speaking journalists.
- Ensure that training programmes take account of journalists’ central role in defending national interests, strengthening social cohesion and raising public awareness.
The President renewed the Union’s commitment to making national languages a fundamental pillar of media pluralism and strengthening professional journalism in Mauritania.
For the Executive Board of the Mauritanian Journalists’ Union
The Secretary responsible for Cultural Diversity and Alternative Media