A number of Mauritanian employees working at the Executive Secretariat of the G5 Sahel countries sent a letter to the Mauritanian Prime Minister, Mokhtar Ould Dakhil, protesting the decision to dismiss 17 employees out of 22 from the Mauritanian staff at the organization. They pointed out that the decision, which began being implemented on December 31, 2024, was made due to the financial difficulties the organization is facing. However, the manner in which it was carried out raised controversy regarding the adherence to legal procedures and the respect for employees’ rights.
In their letter, the employees clarified several violations that accompanied the dismissal process, including:
- Failure to respect the notice period, which should have been three months for staff and one month for others, according to the permanent contracts they work under.
- Absence of any prior notice or financial compensation.
- Lack of transparency and fairness in selecting the employees who were retained, as the list included two individuals who were about to retire.
- The decision was limited to Mauritanian employees only, excluding others.
The employees requested a review of the decision and ensuring their rights are respected, calling for urgent intervention to address the issue and investigate the procedures followed. They also expressed their willingness to provide any further clarifications through their representatives.
