The Desert Guardians: The Méharistes of Mauritania

For over ten years, an unprecedented surveillance operation has been underway at the borders of Mauritania. With light and swaying steps, about twenty men armed with AK-47s patrol the vast stretches of sand dunes on camelback. These men, known as Méharistes, have become a fundamental pillar in the fight against terrorism in the Sahara. Reintroduced with the aim of combating terrorism in such a hostile environment, the Méharistes have proven their indispensability over the years. Originally disbanded by the French army in 1962, these Saharan units have been revived by Mauritania to address the growing security threats. Today, the mission of the Mauritanian Méharistes remains to ensure peace and security in the Mauritanian Sahara, along the difficult border with Mali. This region, classified as a red zone due to its dangerousness, stretches over thousands of kilometers of inhospitable land where armed gangs and Islamic groups operate freely, ignoring any borders.

In Achemine, a small village located just 60 kilometers from the Malian border, a camel training camp has been established with funding from the European Union. This center is part of a broad security and development program that has seen the recruitment of 300 camels, used for patrol operations. The use of camels offers a crucial strategic advantage over the army’s 4×4 vehicles, which produce noise and raise dust visible from miles away. The Méharistes, on the other hand, can move silently and unnoticed, a vital characteristic in a territory controlled by armed bands and transnational Islamic groups. To prevent the takeover of villages by Islamic groups, Mauritania has strengthened the Nomadic Group, a special unit that, in addition to ensuring security, supports local populations. As part of this commitment, the European Union has financed the construction of solar-powered wells, with Nomadic Group guards regularly monitoring these installations, such as in the village of Bir Nsra.

The mission of the guards is also to regain the trust of local communities. In neighboring countries, the absence of the state has allowed Islamic groups to infiltrate villages, funding schools and dispensaries. This risk also exists in Mauritania, where radical groups could establish themselves near wells and villages, gradually building ties with local populations. The Méharistes are primarily recruited from young local nomads who deeply know the desert they must patrol. These young men not only defend the territory but also represent the presence of the state in the most remote areas of the country, thus helping to maintain order and security in one of the Sahara’s most unstable regions. The decade-long experience of the Méharistes has shown that, despite the challenges, their presence is essential for the stability and protection of local communities in Mauritania.