The national navies of Senegal and Mauritania conducted a joint operation on August 23 and 24, 2024, as part of efforts to secure territorial waters.
According to an official announcement from the Senegalese Navy on its X account (formerly Twitter) on August 28, the joint operation between the Senegalese and Mauritanian navies, named MUSTARAKA, was described as an « operational cooperation activity » (ACO) aimed at addressing the « common maritime challenges » faced by both countries. The operation took place « throughout the depth of the maritime border zone » between Senegal and Mauritania.
This collaboration is part of the ongoing efforts to secure the territorial waters of both West African nations. No specific details about the exact nature of the activities conducted or the resources deployed were provided in the official communication. However, images accompanying the announcement show personnel from both navies holding the flags of their respective countries.
The announcement comes amid a regional context where maritime security is a growing concern for West African coastal states.
