Core Insights - Mauritania's government has reached a staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) regarding the fifth economic program review under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) and the Extended Fund Facility (EFF), as well as the fourth review under the Resilience and Sustainability Fund (RSF) [1] Group 1: Reform Achievements - Mauritania has made significant progress in fiscal discipline, governance capacity, and climate resilience, with all fiscal discipline targets achieved and improvements in monetary and exchange rate policy frameworks [2] - Following the IMF Executive Board's approval, Mauritania will receive 6.44 million Special Drawing Rights (approximately $8.7 million) and an additional 59.44 million Special Drawing Rights (approximately $80.6 million) under the RSF framework [2] Group 2: Economic Performance - Mauritania's economy remains strong, with a projected GDP growth rate of 6.3% in 2024 and stabilization at 4.2% in 2025, driven by the recovery in mining sectors such as gold and iron ore, as well as growth in agriculture and fisheries [3] - Inflation is expected to remain below 2% in 2025 due to prudent monetary policy, and international foreign exchange reserves have surpassed $1.46 billion, providing a substantial buffer against external risks [3] - The medium-term outlook indicates an average annual growth rate of around 5% for Mauritania's economy from 2026 to 2029 [3] Group 3: Structural Reforms - Structural reforms are a key focus of the discussions, with an emphasis on accelerating reforms in anti-corruption and governance, including the establishment of a national anti-corruption agency and the implementation of the Asset and Interest Declaration Law to enhance government transparency and rule of law [4] - Climate resilience initiatives will be introduced under the RSF framework, including an automatic fuel pricing mechanism and a "climate contribution" system to address climate change and free up fiscal space [4] - The central bank has implemented a national financial inclusion strategy to promote electronic payments and system interoperability, facilitating financing opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises and vulnerable groups [4] - The IMF representative praised Mauritania's progress in public finance, exchange rate flexibility, and governance systems, reaffirming the IMF's continued support for consolidating economic reform achievements [4]