In 2006, after 20 years of authoritarian rule had been brought to an end by a bloodless coup, the first elections in Mauritania took place, allowing more than a million voters to cast their vote for the first time.

Prior to Mauritania’s historic election, Sheikh Mohamed proposed and funded a course to provide training for official press officers and journalists working in Mauritania. The course focused on the ethics of journalism throughout the electoral process and the vital role the media can play in ensuring that an election is both free and fair. Sheikh Mohamed also provided money for the provision of essential broadcasting equipment, which ensured effective coverage during the elections themselves.

In excess of thirty journalists from the Mauritanian Information Agency, the national and local print, and broadcasting media received the training during the months leading up to the elections. The training was carried out by a team from the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, under the leadership of Professor Philippe Saunier, Director, The Right to Peace and Development Programme. The course was deemed to have been very successful by all attendees.