The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) welcomes the release of the students from the University of Nouakchott who were arrested on March 20, 2025, for protesting during a fast-breaking banquet (iftar) attended by the Mauritanian President on the university campus.
The students had been part of an ongoing movement demanding the payment of their university scholarships. Their exclusion from the official event sparked widespread protests around the campus, with demonstrators denouncing what they described as a policy of exclusion and lack of dialogue with the authorities.
Following their arrest, the National Student Union of Mauritania (ANEM) secured legal representation for the students and followed up on the case in court. On March 26, 2025, ANEM announced their release in an official statement.
The MFWA considers the students’ release a victory for student mobilisation. However, the Foundation strongly maintains that their arrest should not have occurred in the first place. MFWA calls on the Mauritanian authorities to respect the right to peaceful protest, engage with the legitimate concerns of students, and foster a climate of dialogue and respect for fundamental freedoms. Freedom of expression and the right to protest are pillars of democracy and must be upheld at all times