The Mauritanian government has thwarted Algerian efforts aimed at controlling the country’s press and directing it to the whims of the Algerian regime. This comes six months after Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune appeared directing a plan to establish a press house in Mauritania under Algerian funding.

Tebboune had informed the Mauritanian president in front of the cameras that he tasked an official with building a press house in Mauritania with Algerian funding, which some independent Mauritanian outlets interpreted as a blatant bribe from the Algerian regime to silence free voices in Mauritania.

The Mauritanian government recognized the malicious Algerian plan and moved to block Tebboune’s efforts by announcing its intention to build a media city, which will include a press house, confirming that it has allocated ten hectares for the construction of this city.

Minister of Culture, Arts, Communication, and Relations with Parliament, El Hassan Ould Meddou, stated that this project will begin soon, noting that one of the hectares designated for the media city will be allocated for the press house, ignoring Algeria and its disruptive plans.

It is worth mentioning that Tebboune’s attempt to bribe the Mauritanian press came after it was attacked by the Algerian regime through their embassy in Nouakchott earlier, accusing it of serving foreign agendas from a country known for its hostility toward Algeria, aiming to disrupt Algerian-Mauritanian cooperation.