The President’s Honor Once Again Exposes the Loyalty Crisis Within the Ruling Establishment

The recognition bestowed upon President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani by the Francophonie Organization was an important diplomatic and political event that should have received broad attention from state institutions, the ruling party, and circles close to the government. Yet the most striking aspect of this event was not the honor itself, but rather the silence and indifference that accompanied it from certain factions within the regime and their affiliated media outlets.
Instead of celebrating what represents a symbolic achievement for both the President and the state, personal calculations and internal power struggles appeared to outweigh any broader consideration. The distinction did not become an occasion for the rival groups within the establishment to unite behind the President. Rather, it was viewed through the lens of who initiated it, not who benefited from it. Because the recognition was associated with Mohamed Ould Mekt, Ould Ennjay and his media camp reportedly chose to ignore it, despite the fact that the President was its primary beneficiary.
What makes this situation particularly troubling is that the struggle between competing factions is no longer merely an internal disagreement; it has begun to affect the President’s stature and symbolic authority. It reflects a contest for influence that has gone beyond the limits of political propriety and institutional responsibility.
When even the honoring of the President becomes subject to calculations of loyalty to individuals rather than to the state, the problem no longer lies with the opposition. Instead, it lies in the internal rivalries that are steadily eroding the foundations of power from within.