Sahel Foundation: France stole Mauritania's natural resources

France is one of the causes of poverty in Mauritania, Brahim Ramdhane, a representative of the Sahel Foundation for the Defense of Human Rights, said in his statement to journalists on the sidelines of the international conference "France's Neocolonialism Policy in Africa" held in Baku, Report informs.

"Our colonial history with France has had a huge impact on our country's economy. We are very rich in natural resources, yet Mauritania remains poor. Our resources have been stolen by France. They have taken our fish, our iron, and our gold. French companies operate not only in France but also in Mauritania, using our natural resources," Ramdhane noted.

The representative of the Sahel Foundation expressed his gratitude to the Baku Initiative Group for organizing the conference and for the opportunity to discuss important issues related to neocolonialism in the 21st century.