AGP Executive Report

Football: Mauritania’s beach soccer team hosts Côte d’Ivoire on October 18 in the second leg of their AFCON qualifier; the winner advances to the tournament in Senegal. Poetry & Publishing: Issue 86 of Al Qawafi features essays, interviews and poetry exploring Arabic verse, including its themes, meters and imagery. International Football: Lionel Messi signed off from Argentina with a goal and two assists in a 3-0 win over Benin, which recently beat Mauritania 2-1 in AFCON qualifying.

Messi Farewell in Buenos Aires: Lionel Messi played his final Argentina match in a friendly vs Benin at Estadio Monumental, finishing with a goal and two assists in a 3-0 win, while fans and players marked the moment with a dramatic drone show that briefly turned into a bank advertisement before forming a Messi shirt. Mauritania in the Sports Spotlight: Ghanaian official Robinson Jasper was named reserve referee for the Beach Soccer AFCON qualifier second leg between Mauritania and Côte d’Ivoire in Nouakchott on Oct. 18. Culture & Reading in Mauritania: House of Poetry published issue 86 of Al Qawafi, featuring interviews, criticism, and poetry themes ranging from “Pride” to “Poetic Themes.” Regional Health Gains: The Ouagadougou Partnership marked 15 years of progress in SRHR and family planning across West Africa, including work with Mauritania. Arts & Community: A fine art photographer’s autumn exhibition highlights how seasonal color becomes a short-lived metaphor for life.

Messi Farewell Match: Lionel Messi’s final Argentina appearance is set for Tuesday at Buenos Aires’ Monumental Stadium, with Benin the surprise opponent—an emotional “last dance” that also marks a first-ever matchup for both sides. Benin Spotlight: Benin’s “Cheetahs” arrive with momentum after strong recent results, including a win over Mauritania, and will aim to spoil Argentina’s tribute night. Mauritania in the Mix: Mauritania is referenced in Benin’s recent form, and local sports news also lands: Ghanaian referee Robinson Jasper has been appointed reserve referee for the Nouakchott leg of the 2026 Beach Soccer AFCON qualifier between Mauritania and Côte d’Ivoire. Regional Health & Women’s Rights: The Ouagadougou Partnership highlights 15 years of SRHR and family planning gains across West Africa, including Mauritania. Culture & Publishing: House of Poetry publishes issue 86 of Al Qawafi, with interviews and literary coverage spanning Arabic poetic themes and city-of-the-poem features. Arts & Media: Radio Is a Foreign Country relaunches its archival radio project as a 24/7 transmission, spotlighting global sounds—including Mauritanian national radio. Sports Streaming Buzz: October 2026 streaming guides keep trending, with Netflix, Prime Video, and Tubi adding new films and series.

Football & Farewell: Lionel Messi is set to bid Argentina and its fans goodbye tonight in a friendly at Estadio Monumental against Benin, with the match framed as his final official appearance and a spotlight on who will wear the No. 10 and captain role next. Benin Profile: Benin’s “Cheetahs” arrive with momentum, including recent results involving Mauritania, and are backed by young talents playing abroad. Mauritania in the Mix: Mauritania shows up in regional football context—Benin’s recent win over Mauritania and a Nouakchott beach soccer qualifier where Ghana’s Robinson Jasper is named reserve referee. Culture & Reading: Nouakchott’s literary scene gets a boost as the House of Poetry publishes issue 86 of Al Qawafi. Women’s Empowerment: A SWEDD parliamentary delegation visited Mauritania’s Parliament, linking regional action to reproductive health and women’s empowerment. Public Finance: The Council of Ministers approved an Amending Finance Bill for 2024, aiming to align spending with the president’s program and speed major projects. Humanitarian Focus: International Day of Older Persons highlights protecting elderly people in conflict and disaster zones.

Parliament & Women’s Health: A SWEDD delegation from Sahel women’s empowerment and reproductive health member countries visited Mauritania’s Parliament in Nouakchott, meeting MP Sidna Soukhna and discussing the Nouakchott Declaration to build a regional network of parliamentarians. Arts & Literature: House of Poetry published issue 86 of Al Qawafi, featuring editorials and sections on Arabic poetic meters, pride in poetry, interviews with poet Mohammed Jalal Al-Sayegh, and discussions ranging from Moroccan city life in verse to themes like gray hair in Arabic poetry. Public Finance: The Council of Ministers approved an amending Finance Bill for 2024, aiming to align spending with the “My Ambition for the Homeland” programme, speed major projects, and adjust the state budget architecture for better resource allocation. Humanitarian Focus: International Day of Older Persons coverage highlights protecting elderly people in conflict and disaster zones, stressing health, shelter, and community support. Football (Regional): Ghanaian referee Robinson Jasper was appointed reserve official for the Mauritania–Côte d’Ivoire Beach Soccer AFCON qualifier in Nouakchott. Sports Culture (Streaming): Lists on Netflix/Prime/Tubi spotlight October 2026 releases, from new series to Halloween-friendly picks.

Energy & Sovereignty: EnerGeo Alliance CEO Nikki Martin says Africa’s “energy future” hinges on responsible exploration plus predictable rules that attract investment and create jobs—an argument coming as African Energy Week 2026 convenes in Cape Town. Sports (Mauritania): Ghanaian official Robinson Jasper has been named reserve referee for the second leg of the 2026 Beach Soccer AFCON qualifier between Mauritania and Côte d’Ivoire in Nouakchott on Oct. 18. CAN 2027 (Mauritania): Benin midfielder Imourane Hassane trained individually in Abidjan ahead of the Benin–Mauritania match, with no official absence confirmed yet. Arts & Culture (region): Morocco’s Asilah Forum opens its 47th edition, positioning the festival as a long-running hub for cultural diplomacy, dialogue, and creative arts. Media & Sound (Mauritania link): Radio Is a Foreign Country relaunches 24/7 transmissions, drawing on archives that include Mauritanian national radio.

Beach Soccer in Nouakchott: Ghanaian official Robinson Jasper has been appointed reserve referee for the second leg of the 2026 Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between Mauritania and Côte d’Ivoire, set for Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026 (17:00 GMT) in Nouakchott. Sports & TV Buzz: NFL London Games 2026 are back with a trio of matches across three Sundays, and the guide highlights where to watch live streams (including free options). Streaming Picks for October: Netflix, Prime Video and more are rolling out spooky-season lineups, while free streamer Tubi is adding major titles for October 2026. Culture Spotlight: Morocco’s Asilah Festival opens its 47th edition as a “sanctuary for dialogue and cross-cultural exchange,” running Oct. 2–18. Mauritania in the News: Mauritania’s government denies claims that the country is a transit point for weapons from Ukraine to Sahel armed groups, stressing its long-running anti-violent extremism strategy.

Streaming Culture: October 2026 is rolling out big titles across Netflix, HBO Max and Prime Video, from Netflix’s “Nobody Wants This” season 3 and “La Bola Negra” to Prime’s Halloween-ready “Carrie,” plus a full Tubi free-stream list featuring horror and crowd-pleasers. Football & Talent: Spanish coaching is being credited for a global ripple effect, with top clubs and national teams leaning on the “Spanish coach” style after recent wins by Luis de la Fuente, Arteta, Emery and Guardiola. Mauritania Sports Spotlight: Ghanaian referee Robinson Jasper has been named reserve official for the Mauritania vs Côte d’Ivoire Beach Soccer AFCON qualifier in Nouakchott (Oct 18). CAN 2027 Qualifiers: Matchday results keep coming, including Benin’s 2-1 win over Mauritania and training updates ahead of the next round. Arts & Community: Morocco’s Asilah Forum opens its 47th edition, positioning art and dialogue as a long-running cultural diplomacy bridge. Mauritania in the News: Mauritania reiterates it rejects claims that it’s a transit point for weapons to Sahel armed groups, stressing its anti-violent extremism strategy.

Beach Soccer Spotlight: Ghanaian referee Robinson Jasper has been appointed reserve official for the second leg of the 2026 Beach Soccer AFCON qualifier between Mauritania and Côte d’Ivoire, set for Nouakchott on Oct. 18. Sports & Fitness: Benin midfielder Imourane Hassane trained separately in Abidjan ahead of the Benin–Mauritania CAN 2027 qualifier, with no official absence announced yet. Streaming & Pop Culture: October 2026 brings spooky-season viewing—Netflix, HBO Max, Prime Video and free streamer Tubi are rolling out new films and series, including Halloween-ready titles like Carrie and horror anthologies. Cultural Diplomacy: Morocco’s Asilah Forum launches its 47th autumn cultural season (Oct. 2–18), bringing together artists, thinkers and international guests for dialogue and creative exchange. Mauritania in the News: Mauritania’s government denies claims that it serves as a transit point for weapons from Ukraine to Sahel armed groups, stressing its long-running counter-violent-extremism strategy. Music & Media: Radio Is a Foreign Country has relaunched its archival radio project as a 24/7 transmission, including recordings from Mauritanian national radio.

Beach Soccer & Nouakchott: Ghanaian referee Robinson Jasper has been appointed reserve official for the second leg of the 2026 Beach Soccer AFCON qualifier between Mauritania and Côte d’Ivoire, set for Oct. 18 in Nouakchott. CAN 2027 Qualifiers (Mauritania focus): Benin’s Imourane Hassane trained individually in Abidjan ahead of the Benin–Mauritania match, with no official absence confirmed yet. Arts & Culture (Mauritania in the soundscape): Radio Is a Foreign Country has relaunched its archive as a 24/7 radio transmission, drawing on recordings including Mauritanian national radio. Streaming & Pop Culture: Tubi’s October 2026 lineup highlights free streaming additions like Spider-Man: Homecoming and Far From Home, plus Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Sports (regional): Egypt will rest Mohamed Salah for the AFCON qualifier in Juba due to concerns over the artificial pitch. Diplomacy & Culture: The Asilah Festival opens its 47th edition as a cross-cultural dialogue and arts showcase running into mid-October.

Beach Soccer & Mauritania Sports: Ghanaian referee Robinson Jasper has been named reserve referee for the second leg of the 2026 Beach Soccer AFCON qualifier between Mauritania and Côte d’Ivoire, set for Sunday, Oct 18 in Nouakchott (17:00 GMT), with Morocco’s Azz-Eddine Essalhi as centre referee. Football & CAN 2027: Benin’s Imourane Hassane trained separately in Abidjan ahead of Benin vs Mauritania, with no official absence confirmed yet—precautionary work after an injury. Streaming & Pop Culture: Tubi’s October lineup leans into free, ad-supported movie nights, adding titles like Spider-Man: Homecoming and Far From Home plus Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Arts & Culture: Morocco’s Asilah Forum launches its 47th edition (Oct 2–18), spotlighting visual arts, music, and cross-cultural dialogue. Mauritania Diplomacy: Mauritania publicly rejects claims that it’s a transit point for weapons to Sahel armed groups, stressing its counter-extremism strategy and regional security role. Global Tech Talk: UN-linked discussions on AI keep raising the same worry: the Global South risks falling further behind as tech races ahead.

Women in Leadership: Morocco’s appointment of its first female head of government is making regional headlines again, with attention on youth expectations, jobs, and democratic reforms after the Ceuta crossings. Qatar Influence Probe: Belgian prosecutors say a Qatar-linked network of fake watchdog and news sites was run by a single creator, raising fresh questions about foreign interference. Mauritania in the Spotlight: Mauritania’s government rejects claims that it is a transit point for weapons from Ukraine to Sahel armed groups, stressing its long-running counter-extremism strategy. Radio & Culture: “Radio Is a Foreign Country” in New Orleans is now broadcasting 24/7, spotlighting global archives that include Mauritanian national radio. Sports—AFCON 2027: Matchday action includes Mauritania’s 3-1 win over CAR in the qualifiers, while Egypt rests Mohamed Salah due to artificial turf concerns. Arts & Events: Morocco’s Asilah Forum launches its 47th edition, blending visual arts, music, and cross-cultural dialogue. Energy Recognition: Mauritania’s energy minister, Mohamed Ould Khaled, receives an African Leadership Excellence Award at IFAL in New York.

Mauritania Security Statement: Mauritania’s government rejected fresh claims that it is a transit point for weapons from Ukraine to Sahel armed groups, saying the allegations lack tangible proof and stressing its long-running strategy against violent extremism. Arts & Culture in the Region: Morocco’s Asilah Forum launched its 47th autumn cultural season, promising visual arts masterclasses, musical performances, and youth-focused programs as a long-running hub for dialogue and cross-cultural exchange. Football & Local Interest: CAN 2027 qualifiers keep rolling, with Mauritania named in match coverage and Benin’s Imourane Hassane training separately ahead of the Benin–Mauritania clash. Media & Sound: “Radio Is a Foreign Country” relaunched as a 24/7 transmission, drawing on archives that include Mauritanian national radio and other regional recordings. Press Freedom Watch: Mauritanian journalist and activist “Warda” (Maimouna Mint Ahmed Souleimane) received a five-year sentence tied to social media posts, raising fresh concerns about freedom of expression.

Mauritania in the spotlight at the UN: At the UN General Assembly, delegations from at least 77 countries walked out during Netanyahu’s speech, with Mauritania among the Arab states leaving the chamber—an echo of wider anger over Gaza and West Asia. CAN 2027 qualifiers (Mauritania focus): The race for AFCON 2027 places kicked off with drama across groups; Mauritania opened with a 3-1 win over the Central African Republic, and the second matchday is already underway. Benin vs Mauritania midfield update: Benin’s Imourane Hassane trained separately in Abidjan after an injury, with no official absence confirmed yet ahead of the Benin-Mauritania clash. Freedom of expression case: Mauritanian journalist “Warda” received a five-year prison sentence (three effective) tied to social media posts, highlighting tightening restrictions on peaceful speech. Arts & culture in the region: Morocco’s Asilah Forum launched its 47th autumn cultural season, bringing visual arts, music, and youth programs into a major cross-cultural dialogue platform. Radio culture link to Mauritania: Radio Is a Foreign Country relaunched 24/7 transmissions, including Mauritanian national radio in its global sound archive.

Mauritania in the spotlight: Mauritanian journalist “Warda” (Maimouna Mint Ahmed Souleimane) received a five-year prison sentence, with three years effective, after social-media convictions tied to “inciting citizens to take up arms” and insulting the President—another sign of tightening space for peaceful expression. Football & culture: AFCON 2027 qualifiers kept rolling, with Mauritania beating the Central African Republic 3-1 in Matchday 1, while Benin edged Mauritania’s CAN rivals on Matchday 2; meanwhile, Egypt’s Mohamed Salah was rested for the Juba match due to artificial turf concerns, and Benin’s Imourane Hassane trained separately ahead of the Benin–Mauritania game. Arts & media: Radio Is a Foreign Country relaunched its archive as a 24/7 global radio transmission, pulling in sounds from places including Mauritanian national radio. Energy leadership: Mauritania’s Energy Minister Mohamed Ould Khaled was honoured at IFAL 2026 for energy leadership and strategic resource governance.

AFCON 2027 Qualifiers (Mauritania focus): Matchday 2 delivered big swings across Group F and beyond, with Mauritania falling 2-1 to Benin in the latest round of the race for Kenya–Tanzania–Uganda spots. CAN 2027 (Benin–Mauritania): Benin midfielder Imourane Hassane trained separately in Abidjan as a precaution after an injury, with no official absence confirmed ahead of the Benin–Mauritania clash. Local Arts & Culture: The Asilah Festival opened its 47th edition, running Oct 2–18, spotlighting visual arts masterclasses, music, and cross-cultural dialogue under the Asilah Forum’s long-running cultural diplomacy mission. Media & Expression (Mauritania): A five-year prison sentence for journalist “Warda” (Maimouna Mint Ahmed Souleimane) underscores tightening restrictions on freedom of expression, including sanctions tied to social media posts. Sports & Media (regional): Egypt’s Mohamed Salah was rested for the AFCON qualifier in Juba due to artificial turf concerns, while Radio Is a Foreign Country relaunched as a 24/7 transmission—featuring recordings that include Mauritanian national radio.