The authorities in Mauritania barred about twelve journalists from covering the 27th Arab League Summit held in the country on July 25, 2016.
According to news reports even though the journalists had been accredited to attend the event, the authorities restrained them from entering the tent that was set up to host the summit.
The reports say “the main target of the ban was the Sahara Media Group” which is, often accused by the Mauritanian authorities of pursuing Moroccan interests, especially on the issue of Western Sahara. Western Sahara was annexed by Morocco in 1975, but Morocco’s claim to the territory has not been recognised by the international community.
Reports say the accreditation of the news agency Al Akhbar was also withdrawn without explanation. Journalists from the newspaper Le Calame, and website cridem.org were among media professionals who were denied access to the interior of the tent that hosted the Summit.