The riders of the desert: the camel cavalry that protects Mauritania against jihadism

In the Saharan immensity, an atypical military unit ensures border security thanks to an alliance between nomadic traditions and modern technologies. At the heart of the arid expanses of the Mauritanian south-east, an elite unit moves with surprising agility. Armed with kalashnikovs and dressed in black turbans, these soldiers mount dromedaries while [...] Article The horsemen of the Mauritanian desert, bulwark against extremism appeared first o…

In the heart of the Mauritanian desert, a single military unit rides camels to guarantee national security. These are the meharists, nomadic soldiers of the National Guard who patrol the vast and remote areas of the country on the back of dromedaries, playing a crucial role in the fight against jihadism. Their effectiveness is indisputable, since Mauritania has not suffered a jihadist attack since 2011. The meharists are heirs of the former came…