The Mauritanian government canceled a contract with a unit of the Chinese state-owned conglomerate Poly Group to sell patrol boats in response to mounting pressure from the United States, according to a report in Africa Intelligence.
The subsidiary, Poly Technologies, has been sanctioned by the United States Treasury Department for its alleged support of the Russian war effort in Ukraine. Due to the sanctions, Washington intervened to block a 40 million euro payment from the Mauritanian government to the Chinese firm, frustrating officials in Nouakchott and the Chinese company.
Mauritanian authorities have reportedly tried unsuccessfully to have the U.S. freeze lifted, preventing Mauritania from acquiring essential equipment to develop the Grand Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) offshore gas field.
