Ahead of the African Union's 37th ordinary session in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (February 17-18), the North African group reportedly agreed to nominate Mauritania for the rotating presidency, averting a potential clash between Morocco and Algeria. This solution follows Algeria's efforts to secure the presidency for President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, coinciding with his upcoming re-election bid. Despite diplomatic messages and discussions, including with representatives of the Polisario, Algeria's strategy proved unsuccessful. Supported by Morocco, Mauritania emerged as a compromise candidate, maintaining group cohesion amid the ongoing Western Sahara dispute. Notably, Mauritanian Foreign Minister Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug had previously campaigned for his country's bid throughout the region. By choosing Mauritania, Tebboune will not participate in the African troika mechanism on Western Sahara for the next three years. This mechanism, established during the 2018 AU summit in Nouakchott, Mauritania, aims to facilitate a solution to the conflict.
