Mauritania’s Cissé Boide Selected as the 2025 Ambassador of the Year

posted on: Dec 23, 2025

100 Top Leaders, Including Over 20 Ambassadors, Turn Out to Congratulate Mauritania’s First Female Ambassador to the USA

For the third year in a row, NUSACC recognizes a female ambassador from North Africa (Maghreb) as Ambassador of the Year

“Ambassador Boide has been remarkably effective in raising awareness about Mauritania and in building coalitions to support Mauritania – U.S. relations,” said David Hamod, President & CEO of NUSACC.  “She has found innovative ways to keep her nation front and center in discussions about security in North Africa.  And now that natural gas has started to flow in Mauritania, she is playing an instrumental role in creating partnerships with the United States across multiple sectors.”  (A video of Hamod’s remarks may be found here.)

To read the full report, please click here.

Ambassador Boide noted, “It is with deep gratitude and immense pride that I stand before you today as the 2025 Ambassador of the Year.  I am truly honored by this recognition – bestowed by the National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce – and I humbly accept this award on behalf of Mauritania’s leadership and our people.”  (A video of the Ambassador’s acceptance speech may be found here.)

Mauritania: High-Level Support

For the first time in memory, Mauritania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a formal letter of congratulations to a chamber of commerce (NUSACC) in celebration of Mauritania – U.S. relations.  H.E. Dr. Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug – Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Mauritanians Abroad – expressed his deep appreciation for this important milestone in Mauritania – U.S. relations, a “solid partnership based on economic, commercial, and diplomatic cooperation.” (A translation of Minister Merzoug’s letter may be found here.)

Mauritania’s Minister of Professional Development, H.E. Mohamed Maalainine Eyih, also sent a letter of congratulations.  He noted, “By honoring our dear Ambassador with this title, you are sending a strong message about . . . the outstanding career of an exceptional woman who has always successfully carried out the high-level missions entrusted to her.”  Eyih was in the United States in May, when he signed an MOU with NUSACC to promote closer cooperation between Mauritania and the USA.  (A translation of Minister Eyih’s letter may be found here.)

Half a dozen leaders traveled from Mauritania to participate in the award ceremony, including H.E. Deman Hamar, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Mauritanians Abroad.  In his speech, he congratulated Ambassador Boide for her “professionalism, dedication, and tireless efforts in representing her beloved country, advancing its interests, and enhancing its international standing.”  (A translation of the Secretary General’s remarks may be found here.)

Also in attendance was H.E. Zein Zeidane, a former Prime Minister of Mauritania.

The U.S. – Mauritania Business Council, based in the capital city of Nouakchott, served as Strategic Partner for this year’s event.  The Lead Sponsor was Kosmos Energy, the top U.S. investor in Mauritania.  Cybastion, a U.S. cybersecurity firm that is launching operations in Nouakchott, served as Gold Sponsor.  Silver Sponsors this year included the Investment Promotion Agency of Mauritania (APIM) and Sahouri Insurance.  The generous support of these partners and sponsors made this year’s Ambassador of the Year celebration possible. 

Shattering the “Glass Ceiling”

Over the years, Ambassador Boide has shattered the “glass ceiling” in a variety of ways:

* She is Mauritania’s first female ambassador to the United States, and she is also accredited to Mexico, Panama, Honduras, Guatemala, and Costa Rica.  (She speaks four languages fluently, including Spanish.)

* She is the first Mauritanian ambassador – man or woman – to be recognized as Ambassador of the Year.

* She is one of the most decorated female leaders in Mauritania, having served as: Permanent Representative to UNESCO and the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) in Paris; Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sports; and Director of Tourism at the Ministry of Commerce, Handicrafts, and Tourism.  (The Ambassador’s abridged biography may be found here.)

She has important shoes to fill as Ambassador of the Year.  In recognition of the growing strength of women ambassadors in the Arab world and Africa, she is the third female ambassador in a row from North Africa (Maghreb) to be selected as Ambassador of the Year.  She follows H.H. Lalla Joumala in 2023, who served as the Kingdom of Morocco’s Ambassador to the United States, and H.E. Hanène Tajouri Bessassi in 2024, who served as Tunisia’s Ambassador to the United States.

Genesis of the Award and Curating a “Top 100” List

The Ambassador of the Year award, begun in 2004, is given annually to a member of the Arab diplomatic corps in the USA for his or her outstanding contributions to U.S. – Arab commercial relations.  To date, ambassadors from 15 nations (in alphabetical order) have been invited to receive the award: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and the United Arab Emirates.

The award ceremony and luncheon, held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Washington DC, included a carefully curated “Top 100” list of leaders from business, government, academia, media, and non-governmental organizations.

More than 20 Chiefs of Mission registered for this year’s event, including the following nations (in alphabetical order): Algeria, Benin, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Iraq, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Oman, Panama, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, and Yemen. 

Numerous U.S. Government leaders were in attendance, including senior officials from the Executive Office of the President (including the National Security Council), the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Department of Energy, the International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA).

Remarks of Ambassador Boide

In her acceptance speech, Ambassador Boide described her arrival in the United States and her journey over the past four years.  “I learned very quickly how helpful the American people are,” she said, “and how keen they are to create friendships. It is no exaggeration to say that I stand before you today on the strength of these partnerships, which have created a win/win environment for Mauritania and the United States.”

She went on to say, “Receiving this prestigious award reminds me that every step of the way – even the uncertain ones – takes us down a path that may lead us to a destination that is beyond our imagination.”

Ambassador Boide attributed her success to Mauritania’s leadership, her family, her fellow diplomats, her colleagues at the Embassy of Mauritania, the U.S. Government, and the American people.   She noted, “Every bridge that I have ever helped to construct was built on a solid foundation of teamwork, collective effort, and a shared vision . . . . I do not receive this distinction today as a personal reward. Rather, it is a recognition of Mauritania’s forward progress.”

She went on to say, “Being named Ambassador of the Year is both an honor and a responsibility.  I accept this recognition on behalf of all those who, each day and often behind the scenes, work with conviction to build trust among peoples and nations.”

Ambassador Boide described her experience of traveling with NUSACC “beyond the beltway” to the State of Iowa – not once, but twice.  “Mauritanian government officials are not accustomed to visiting America’s Heartland, so these visits were a special treat for me,” she said. 

“I learned a lot about the people of the Midwest: Their strong commitment to faith & family & community, their exceptional hospitality, their very natural curiosity about other cultures, and their deep, deep connection to the good earth.”  In many ways, she suggested, the people of the Heartland “remind me of my fellow Mauritanians from Hodh Ech Chargui, a livestock-raising region, and Trarza, an agricultural region.”

The Mauritanian diplomat dedicated the 2025 Ambassador of the Year award to “all those who believe in the power of dialogue and the value of collective effort.  I see this distinction not as an achievement unto itself, but as an incentive to continue our mission of building bridges among governments, peoples, institutions, and businesses on the solid foundations of trust, transparency, and mutual respect.” 

She concluded, “I dedicate this award to my beloved country, Mauritania – to its hopeful youth, and to its women and men who work every day to build a strong and prosperous nation.”

(Ambassador’s acceptance speech may be found here.)

Forging Government-to-Government Partnerships

Through strategic diplomacy, effective government relations, and people-to-people engagement, Ambassador Boide has advanced Mauritania’s economic and security partnerships, while showcasing her country as a reliable partner in Africa.  For example, she:

* Played an instrumental role in supporting Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani’s meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in July 2025, a meeting that highlighted Mauritania’s resources and pivotal role in the region.

* Ensured Mauritania’s participation in the Summit for Democracy (2023) – as the second Arab country invited – underscoring her country’s democratic progress.

* Played a pivotal role in 2024 in restoring Mauritania’s eligibility – after years of suspension – to benefit from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), thereby opening new channels for trade, investment, and preferential access to U.S. markets.

* Advocated successfully for Mauritania’s selection in 2022 (and confirmation in 2023) for the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Threshold Program, laying foundations for large-scale cooperation in climate resilience, energy, and infrastructure.

* Facilitated U.S. military training and equipment support, resulting in enhanced capabilities in combat medical care, tactical planning, and counterterrorism operations, thereby solidifying Mauritania’s role as a reliable security partner in the Sahel.

* Enabled Mauritanian officers to study in elite U.S. military schools, which has strengthened Mauritania’s defense capacity, advanced operational skills, and created international networks and partnerships.

* Elevated Mauritania’s ranking in Trafficking in Persons (TIP) in 2023 from Tier 3 to Tier 2 for the first time in the country’s history.  This recognition by the U.S. Government is strengthening reforms against human trafficking and hereditary slavery, paving the way for additional measures in coming years.

* Played a leadership role among African ambassadors, Arab ambassadors, and Francophone Ambassadors, with Mauritania presiding over the African region.

Business Perspectives

Government-to-government partnerships are important, but so are private sector initiatives, which create jobs and sustain economic growth.  In this spirit, two of the most important business entities in Mauritania were deeply involved in the 2025 Ambassador of the Year proceedings: The U.S. – Mauritania Business Council (USMRBC), the event’s Strategic Partner, and Kosmos Energy, the event’s Lead Sponsor.

Sidi Mohamed Kaem, Secretary General of the USMRBC, talked about the significant potential that exists in U.S. – Mauritania commercial relations.  “American companies have long been partners in key sectors like energy, logistics, and infrastructure,” he noted, “and companies like Kosmos Energy continue to rely on local partnerships.”  Through the U.S.–Mauritania Business Council, he said, the business community is working to expand commercial models across industries.

He went on to say, “Ambassador Cissé has played a pivotal role in fostering these relationships, championing Mauritania’s potential, and deepening mutual understanding.  Her leadership has opened doors and inspired confidence on both sides.”  He concluded, “As we look ahead, let today’s celebration also be a call to action . . . to reinvigorate trade, explore new agreements, and strengthen commercial ties that benefit both nations.”

Jeffrey Krilla, Vice President for Global Public Policy at Kosmos Energy, is a prominent advocate for U.S. – Mauritania commercial ties.  “For Kosmos Energy, and for the entire U.S. strategic community, the nation of Mauritania is no longer just a vital security partner in the Sahel,” he noted.  “Mauritania is a rising global energy player, an economic bridge between North and Sub-Saharan Africa, and a profound story of successful governance.”

“For those of us in the energy and foreign policy sectors,” Krilla noted, “we are witnessing a Mauritanian moment.  Earlier this year, President Ghazouani’s visit to Washington made clear the country’s multi-faceted message to the West: It’s a message of security competence, democratic progress, and incredible economic potential.  At Kosmos Energy, we are a key partner in this story, particularly through the development of Mauritania’s vast natural gas reserves.”

Krilla, attending his first Ambassador of the Year gathering, said it is a “profound honor to be here today to recognize a diplomat whose work truly embodies

the power of stability, foresight, and relentless advocacy.”  He characterized Ambassador Boide as a “diplomat for the 21st century” on the strength of her commitment to economic growth, her tireless advocacy for women’s leadership, and her “blend of economic expertise, security focus, and commitment to governance.”

Krilla concluded, “From ensuring transparency in emerging energy sectors to facilitating high-level engagement with U.S. institutions, Ambassador Boide has directly contributed to the flourishing of commerce and partnership between our two nations.  On behalf of Kosmos Energy, we are proud to be a part of Mauritania’s exciting future, and we are grateful for the Ambassador’s accessible and competent leadership.”

Testimonial Remarks

Testimonial remarks provide a reflection of the breadth and depth of a diplomat’s relationships – with the U.S. Government, state & local governments, business communities, civil society, and academia.

Hon. William Stevens, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for West Africa, offered remarks on behalf of the U.S. Government, including the U.S. Embassy in Nouakchott.  “The United States and Mauritania share a strong and growing partnership grounded in mutual respect, shared regional priorities, and a common vision for stability and prosperity in West Africa and the Sahel,” he noted.  “Under Ambassador Boide’s leadership, our bilateral relationship has expanded in meaningful ways, including regional issues, security cooperation, and, importantly, economic collaboration.  She has played a key role in advancing recent U.S. – Mauritania initiatives focused on economic reform, good governance, and private sector-led growth.”

Stevens went on to say, “Ambassador Boide has been a steady, thoughtful, and forward-looking partner; one who understands that diplomacy today is inseparable from economic engagement and inclusive growth.  Throughout her tenure, she has exemplified principled leadership and an unwavering commitment to strengthening U.S. – Mauritanian ties.”

He stated, “Ambassador, your service has made our partnership stronger. Through your leadership, you have helped move our relationship from dialogue to delivery and turned shared priorities into concrete action.  Your leadership has elevated Mauritania’s profile as a reliable and attractive partner, and your engagement has helped bring our countries closer together.”  He concluded, “Today, we celebrate your achievements, but we also celebrate the future that we are building together.  Congratulations once again on this well-earned honor.”

*               *               *

H.E. Deman Hamar – Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Mauritanians Abroad – offered remarks in Washington DC on behalf of the Government of Mauritania.  He noted, “On this occasion, I am pleased to reaffirm the deep appreciation of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania for its steadily growing partnership with the United States of America – one built on constructive dialogue, economic collaboration, and close diplomatic coordination, and reflected today through impactful initiatives such as this distinguished event, which underscores the strength of our bilateral relations.”

He continued, “It is also my distinct pleasure to extend my warmest congratulations to Her Excellency Ambassador Cissé Cheikh Boide on her selection by the National U.S. – Arab Chamber of Commerce as Ambassador of the Year 2025.  This well-earned recognition is a testament to her professionalism, dedication, and tireless efforts in representing her country, advancing its interests, and enhancing its international standing.”

Secretary General Hamar concluded, “It is a great honor to convey my sincere appreciation for the vital role played by the National U.S. – Arab Chamber of Commerce in fostering dialogue and strengthening economic and commercial partnerships between the Arab world and the United States, in a manner that advances our shared interests and promotes sustainable growth and investment.”

*               *               *

Hon. Paul D. Pate, Iowa’s Secretary of State, has hosted Ambassador Boide twice since 2024 with a view to promoting partnerships between Iowa and Mauritania.  He noted, “As the first Mauritanian Ambassador to visit Iowa, Ambassador Boide has demonstrated a clear commitment to building and strengthening relationships with key economies in the Heartland.  Her diplomatic efforts exemplify the highest levels of public service – international partnerships, uplifting the next generation, and enhancing the quality of life at home through economic and trade collaboration.”

Pate concluded, “It has been an honor to work with Ambassador Boide and to observe her commitment to meaningful dialogue and partnerships. Her presence in Iowa has been both impactful and deeply appreciated.”

*               *               *

Hon. Kimberly Bassett, Secretary of State of Washington DC, has attended many Ambassador of the Year events over the years.  She noted, “We gather today to honor a leader whose work is rooted in an unwavering commitment to community. Her Excellency Cissé Cheikh Boide is a trailblazer: Mauritania’s first female ambassador to the United States, and a diplomat whose career has spanned culture, tourism, youth leadership, and global advocacy.”

Bassett went on to say, “It’s a pleasure to recognize someone who gives back through cultural exchange and who understands how relationships – the small acts of showing up and listening – transform communities.”  She continued, “Madam Ambassador, you are an incredible person and a tremendous force for good.  Your advocacy for inclusion and cooperation has made Washington stronger and more connected to the African continent.”

Bassett stated, “She doesn’t just show up for ceremonial events . . . She partners with local institutions, engages with our cultural organizations, and builds connections that open doors for intercultural dialogue.”  The Secretary of State concluded, “Ambassador Boide is vibrant, warm, and deeply committed to lifting up women’s leadership.  She always shows up — and when she shows up, she brings energy and makes a real impact.  We are so thankful to have her here in DC.”

*               *               *

Florie Liser, President and CEO of the Corporate Council on Africa, noted that2025 has been exceptionally significant for Mauritania and that “Ambassador Cissé Boide has been instrumental in that success . . . from advancing regional integration and economic reforms to positioning the country as a major player in the rapidly growing energy, infrastructure, and sustainable development sectors.  She has successfully elevated Mauritania’s voice on the global stage, strengthening the foundation for trade and investment that benefits the entire U.S. – Africa relationship.”

Liser continued, “Year after year, this Ambassador of the Year event shines a light on ambassadors who embody the highest ideals of service, leadership, and global cooperation . . . My dear sister, Cissé, has distinguished herself not just as a champion of her country, but as a chief advocate for deeper economic engagement across the Atlantic.”

“In a world that often favors complexity,” Liser said, “Ambassador Boide reminds us that the most effective diplomacy is rooted in trust, respect, and relentless effort.  As we say, ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.’  Ambassador Boide, you have ensured that we go both fast and far, leading us with grace and purpose.” 

Liser concluded, “Your work continues to strengthen the bonds between our peoples, and we are profoundly grateful for your partnership, your vision, and your formidable example.”

*               *               *

Jan Du Plain, a well-respected Washington socialite and President of Du Plain Global Enterprises, has worked closely with Ambassador Boide over the past four years.  She noted, “Cissé doesn’t just hold office; she changes the atmosphere.  I like to call leaders like this ‘light bearers’, and today, we honor one of the brightest among them.”

Du Plain continued, “Cissé came to Washington to raise the game for Mauritania.  Before meeting her, I didn’t really know much about Mauritania.  But she speaks about her country with such passion, pride, and poetry that by the time she finishes, you’ve packed your bags and you are ready to go!”

Du Plain concluded, “During Cissé’s tenure, she has transformed U.S. – Mauritania relations in all areas, including cultural diplomacy.  She never hesitates. She always says yes.  She always shows up.  And she is a loyal sister to other women ambassadors and to all of us in Washington’s international community.  She is the best of the best!”

The Last Word

The last word goes to Her Excellency the Ambassador: “I am deeply honored to receive the Ambassador of the Year award from NUSACC.  This recognition is especially meaningful because NUSACC stands for unity, empowerment, and partnership – values that I hold close to my heart.  Being an ambassador is never about one person; it is about countries, connections, and collaboration.  I am proud to share this honor with all those who have supported and inspired me along the way.” 

She concluded, “Thank you, NUSACC, for this recognition and for the important work that you do.  Together, let us continue building bridges of unity, empowerment, and partnership between the United States and Mauritania.”

​​​​To read the full report in PDF, please click here.