Mauritanian ambassador denies reports of planned meeting with Netanyahu

The Mauritanian Ambassador to Washington, Sisa bint Al-Sheikh Ould Bidah, has denied any knowledge of a planned meeting between President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, describing the reports as “fake news”.

In comments to a local media outlet, the ambassador clarified that her status as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary is automatically suspended whenever the President of the Republic is present in the host country. Therefore, the presidential communications office is the only body authorised to make public statements or respond to enquiries.

She added that, up until she ceased her duties at 3:15 p.m. the previous day, there had been no indication or official basis for the media reports. She concluded her remarks with the phrase: “Is not the morning near?”, implying that the truth will soon become evident.

Her comments follow reports in several U.S. and regional media outlets suggesting that a meeting was being arranged between President Ghazouani—currently in Washington for the U.S.–Africa Leaders Summit—and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Some reports cited unnamed sources claiming the meeting might occur on the summit’s sidelines as part of U.S.-led efforts to expand the Abraham Accords.

However, no official confirmation of such a meeting has been issued, and Mauritanian authorities have firmly dismissed the reports as baseless.