Mauritania’s Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Yacoub Ould Moine, presented sector figures on October 4 in a public-media accountability programme. The Mauritanian News Agency reported his statement that enrolment rose from about 22,679 students in 2019 to 51,214 in 2026, while the access rate increased from 5.8% to 10%. The minister gave 9% as the African average for comparison.

The minister said the higher-education budget rose from 10 billion ouguiyas in 2016 to 23 billion in 2026. The number of academic programmes increased from 30 in 2019 to 136 in 2026, while doctoral schools grew from three to nine; the current scientific-research allocation was reported at 500 million ouguiyas. These are administrative figures cited from the minister’s presentation. AMI did not report audited spending outcomes or an inflation-adjusted comparison.