It is clear that the Mauritanian authorities do not neglect today the fact that the media constitutes a pillar of security strategies. This is how the statement of the Ministry of Interior came, a few hours after the “Salafists” escaped from the central prison in Nouakchott Last night around nine o’clock in the evening. It is true that many and varied information was broadcast immediately before that on a large scale through the media and social networks on the subject in a way in which its distributors sometimes do not adhere to the professional caution required by the nature and seriousness of the event; This prompted us to call for patience in the media’s handling of the issue, and to request the official authorities concerned to intervene quickly to enlighten public opinion about what happened and is happening.[i]. Indeed, its reaction did not take long, which allowed proper treatment of the information circulated, scrutiny and correction, especially with regard to: the number and type of fugitives, the number of victims and wounded, the timing of the operation, and the exchange of fire.
Of course, many questions remain, for which we do not expect answers in the near future. The investigation is at the beginning of its first steps, and it will not fully bear fruit until after a period of time, and only God knows its value. The surprising suddenness of the event and its very sensitive security nature make it necessary to select the available information suitable for publication. Among the most important of these questions, for which we do not expect quick answers:
- How and did the fugitives get help from conspirators from inside or outside the prison? And what are the procedures for that?
- To what extent will this event affect the state’s policy and strategies in the field of combating terrorism and violent extremism?
- How will the authorities and the media deal with the repercussions of what happened and its impact on what is known as the “Mauritanian model” in the field of combating terrorism and violent extremism?
Whatever the answers, the escape of these dangerous prisoners will inevitably bring about important security changes, the details of which will not be disclosed: they will affect the plans for securing and running prisons, and we believe that they will include other aspects, more general and deeper, concerned with updating the general national strategy to combat violent extremism and terrorism, whether What is related to the military aspects or aspects of information and awareness.
The country’s image and security have been exposed by this event to a stumbling block that should not be taken lightly: neither at home nor abroad. I personally expect it to hurt the arrangement Mauritania on the general index of terrorism (GTI[ii](which is issued annually by the Institute for Economics and Peace)[iii]IEP) located in Australia.
On the other hand, it is self-evident that the security situation has deteriorated on our western borders with a state Mali adjacent and in the area the coast Generally, it complicates the matter. Rather, it is possible for us to wonder: Does what we are observing of a dangerously increasing strength of terrorist and criminal groups in the region have a direct or indirect involvement, of any kind, in what happened last night in the central prison? Nouakchott؟
Al-Bukhari Muhammad Mo’mal Follow Favorite
[ii] Global terrorism index.
[iii] Institute for Economics & Peace.