Madar (Nouakchott) - The governor of Mauritania's Hodh El Gharbi region, Mohamed Ould Ahmed Mouloud, on Thursday evening 5 November 2026 opened the interregional ("wilayas") traditional shooting tournament in Oum Ekreiya, west of the town of Aioun, the Mauritanian News Agency (AMI) reported on Friday.
The governor said the event was an opportunity "to value the national cultural heritage" and to strengthen healthy competition, fraternity and contact between people from different regions, while helping to preserve traditional sports and pass them on to younger generations.
He urged participants to show responsibility and discipline and to respect the rules of the competition so that the event runs smoothly, and praised the work of the organisers and their partners.
The president of the Mauritanian Traditional Shooting Bureau, Ahmedou Bamba Ould Baye, welcomed the teams, describing the tournament as a celebration of "an authentic national heritage" and part of the country's cultural and social memory that embodies courage, discipline and fair competition.
The president of the Hodh El Gharbi regional council, Jemal Ould Mohamed, and the mayor of Aioun, Sidi Mohamed Ould El Bekaye, also welcomed the teams, stressing the event's role in strengthening cultural and social ties and boosting the local economy, the agency said.
The opening ceremony was attended by the prefect of Aioun district and the heads of the region's security and military services.
