In accordance with the vision of His Excellency the President of the Republic, Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, who places citizens and local communities at the center of the development process, the Maaden National Agency of Mauritania works to establish an integrated approach combining the organization of the artisanal and semi-industrial mining sector with support for local development and the promotion of local content, with particular attention to decentralization in the implementation of projects and services.
The Agency believes that the true success of gold mining and mineral resources is not measured solely in terms of production, but also through its positive impact on the lives of citizens, the improvement of infrastructure, support for the local economy, and the strengthening of the capacities of municipalities and communities to manage their affairs efficiently and sustainably.
Local Content as a Lever for Development
As part of its local content policy, the Agency ensures that a substantial portion of the economic benefits, employment opportunities, and services related to mining directly benefit the communities concerned. This includes:
Recruiting local labor whenever possible.
Purchasing equipment and services from local suppliers.
Supporting local initiatives in the areas of health, education, and access to water.
Contributing directly to improving public infrastructure and strengthening municipal capacities.
Strategic Agreements with Municipalities
In this context, the Director General, Mr. BA Ousmane, signed strategic cooperation agreements with the municipalities of Zouérate and Chami. These agreements constitute a practical model for integrating economic and social dimensions into mining activities.
Zouérate Municipality – Health, Hygiene, and Service Infrastructure
Financial donation of 120 million old ouguiyas for the acquisition of:
Two sanitation trucks
A mechanical shovel for public works
Agency participation in regular city cleanup campaigns
Subsidy of 10 million old ouguiyas for the regional hospital
Provision of a fully equipped ambulance to strengthen emergency medical care
Chami Municipality – Water, Hygiene, and Essential Services
Provision of a 20 m³ capacity tank for the distribution of drinking water
Provision of four dump trucks to support sanitation services
Delivery of 50 wheelbarrows, 100 hand shovels, and 100 masks to strengthen public cleanliness efforts
Monthly allocation of 400,000 old ouguiyas for 12 months to support cleanup campaigns
Participation in cleanup operations Regular meetings in partnership with local authorities
Monitoring and enforcement mechanisms
These agreements are not limited to material support; they also provide for:
The establishment of joint monitoring committees to ensure the rigorous and timely execution of commitments made.
Continued consultations between the Agency and municipalities on mining activities to ensure their compatibility with the interests of local communities and artisanal miners.
The development of impact measurement mechanisms to ensure that the support provided generates tangible and sustainable results.
Decentralization at the heart of the strategy
Through these initiatives, the National Agency Maaden Mauritania is implementing a true decentralization approach, providing local authorities with more resources and means, thereby strengthening their capacity to manage public services and making development closer to citizens and better adapted to their real needs.
These efforts are not one-offs, but are part of a strategic vision that makes local development and local content essential and permanent components of the artisanal and semi-industrial mining sector.
The Agency is committed to expanding these initiatives to other regions, thus strengthening the link between the exploitation of mineral resources and building the future of local communities.
Through this integrated approach, Maaden Mauritania affirms that gold is not just a metal extracted from the subsoil, but an opportunity to develop humanity and its environment, and to achieve sustainable development for the benefit of all.