Sudan asks Mauritania for grace period for gold miners in north

March 26, 2026 (GENEVA) – Sudan’s Minister of Human Resources and Social Care, Motasim Ahmed Saleh, requested on Thursday that Mauritania grant Sudanese citizens working in northern mining areas a sufficient grace period to settle their affairs and property.

The request follows recent regulatory and security measures taken by Nouakchott in the border regions with Algeria. Earlier this month, Mauritanian authorities ordered hundreds of foreign miners to evacuate these sites for organizational and security reasons.

Sudanese miners represent the majority of those affected. They operate extensive infrastructure, including hundreds of gold processing mills and integrated plants valued at millions of dollars.

Saleh met with Mauritanian Minister of Civil Service and Labour, Maryam bint Beijal Ould Hmeid, on the sidelines of international meetings in Geneva. The meeting included Sudan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Hassan Hamid Hassan, and high-ranking Mauritanian officials.

The two sides discussed the conditions of Sudanese workers in light of the exceptional circumstances Sudan is currently facing.

The Mauritanian minister emphasized that the mining regulations apply to all nationalities and Mauritanian citizens alike. She stated that the measures are driven by border security needs and are not specifically directed at Sudanese nationals.

Hmeid noted that Sudanese citizens maintain a privileged status, allowing them to work freely in other regions of the country. She promised to review the request for a grace period for the miners upon her return to Nouakchott.

The officials agreed to establish a direct communication channel between the two ministries to regulate labour and enhance cooperation in training and social protection.