Madar (Nouakchott) - Four Mauritanian student unions announced on Thursday, at the University of Nouakchott, the creation of a joint alliance called the "Student Front for the Defence of Rights and Gains", to unite their efforts to demand better conditions for students and better university services.
The alliance brings together the National Union of Mauritanian Students (UNEM), the General Union of Mauritanian Students (UGEM), the National Students' Union of Mauritania (SNEM) and the National League of Mauritanian Students.
In a joint statement, the unions said the move followed consultations on the state of higher education and the impact of the supervising ministry's decisions, and pledged to coordinate protest action.
Their main demands include reviewing the criteria for national and foreign scholarships, expanding master's places and activating doctoral schools, reinstating students excluded from university institutions, improving services, protecting union freedoms and giving students a greater role in running universities.
The announcement was followed by a march on campus, where participants chanted slogans calling for student unity and criticising the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
