From November 9 to 13, a team from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Mauritania, led by the Head of the Country Programme Office, Hélène Phan, embarked on a mission alongside the Meharist Unit to visit three nomadic communities near the Meharists Cadet Academy of Achemime.
This field mission allowed UNODC to witness firsthand the pivotal role of the Meharist Unit in fostering peace and security through development in these isolated areas. These units are not only a cornerstone of local law enforcement and efforts to protect Mauritanian borders but also a critical mechanism for maintaining stability in the region.
UNODC also had a valuable opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue with nomadic communities, discussing their vulnerabilities and needs, including access to essential resources such as water, food, and education. Another key concern for these communities is the threat of wildfires, which pose a significant risk to pastures—the primary source of livelihood for these communities as they sustain their livestock.
Particular emphasis was placed on amplifying the voices of nomadic women, ensuring that their concerns and perspectives were acknowledged. As expressed by the UNODC Regional Representative for West and Central Africa, Amado Philip de Andrés, "Women are and must be key actors in ensuring the maintenance of stability and peace due to the important role they play in these communities."
Local Expertise and Deep Roots
The Meharists are uniquely positioned to navigate the desert landscape, owing to their recruitment from within nomadic communities. Their mission extends beyond combating transnational organized crime — it is a deeply personal endeavor to preserve their historical and cultural heritage: "Being a Meharist makes me feel useful both to my country and to the communities we reach. They trust us because they see themselves in us, and many nomadic children dream, as I once did, of becoming Meharists someday". This deep connection enables them to understand the terrain intimately and to address the specific needs of the populations they serve. By fostering a strong relationship of trust, the Meharists effectively legitimize law enforcement among vulnerable groups, bridging the gap between state institutions and nomadic populations.
As Colonel Moulay Sidi Mohamed, Head of the 3rd Office of the National Guard explained: “The nomadic units are tasked with the operational defense of the territory, intelligence gathering, and the exercise of administrative and judicial policing in their areas of responsibility. But above all, they assist nomadic populations by providing access to drinking water and free healthcare. These units are, therefore, a tool for intelligence, defense, and development".
Insight to Mauritania’s National Strategy against terrorism: Towards Inclusive Security and Development
Mauritania's national strategy against terrorism involves a multidimensional approach combining military, political, and social measures, which address the factors directly or indirectly fueling terrorism and violent radicalization, among others. This strategy has helped the country maintain relative stability in a volatile region.
As it was stated in October 2023 by the Mauritanian Advisor, Miss Mariam Sao, in the Sixth Committee of the United Nations General Assembly on measures aiming the elimination of international terrorism, in January 2010, a commission was established to develop a national counter-terrorism strategy. By July of the same year, a more stringent anti-terrorism law was adopted, and the operational doctrine of the Armed Forces became more offensive to adapt to the asymmetric security landscape.
The Meharist Unit exemplifies a holistic approach to security that integrates community development and trust-building as essential components. Their work, supported by UNODC and other partners, demonstrates how inclusive and locally informed security practices can serve as a foundation for long-term peace and development in Mauritania’s most remote regions.
This mission took place within the framework of UNODC’s project "Strengthening the Integration of Gender Perspectives within Meharist Units to Enhance the Protection of Border Populations," funded by the United Kingdom, aligned with Mauritania’s Stratégie de Croissance Accélérée et de Prospérité Partagée (2016-2030) as well as Sustainable Development Goals 5 and 16, which aim to promote gender equality and peaceful societies.