Through concrete aid and respect for their dignity, the Church of Nouakchott shows migrants the face of Christ. In an environment where the Gospel can essentially only be proclaimed through tangible actions, the Church in Mauritania, with the support of ACN, rekindles hope in those who felt forgotten.
«At first, I was embarrassed to go to the Accueil-Écoute Center to ask for food. I was afraid they would reject me or treat me like a beggar. But I finally gathered my courage, and I was surprised by how kindly they welcomed me!» says Arlette, a woman from Ivory Coast. Today, she feels «like family» in the place where she found support and dignity.
For most migrants, Mauritania is merely a transit point on their journey to Europe, risking their lives in the process.
In Muslim-majority Mauritania, the Church maintains a discreet profile and mainly operates through its social mission. It is one of the few institutions migrants—both Christians and Muslims—trust. The Accueil-Écoute Center, part of the parish of Saint Joseph in Nouakchott, provides essential support to many people living in extreme poverty. With the backing of the international pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), the center offers assistance to migrants who often find no help elsewhere, especially single women, struggling families, and sick children.
According to Franck Paulin, ACN’s project officer for North and West Africa, the Catholic Church in Mauritania—made up entirely of foreigners, both laity and clergy, who have come to the country for various reasons—is very sensitive to the moral, religious, and material needs of migrants and remains open and attentive to the poor within the country.
Paulin describes the dramatic migration situation in Mauritania: «Every month, corpses appear on the beaches—people who were trying to reach Las Palmas in the Canary Islands in hopes of getting to Europe. They are victims of the coercive measures imposed by the international community against migration flows, as well as the pressure from their communities that pushes them to risk everything in hopes of making a fortune abroad and supporting their families.»
At the same time, Paulin highlights the important role of the Catholic Church, particularly through the work of the Accueil-Écoute Center: «It is a refuge where everyone is welcomed in the name of Christ, with human warmth and charity, in a context of systemic need. The center also aims to provide migrants with the means to one day return to their countries with their heads held high.»
Led by Sister Marie-Ange Ndayishimiye, the Accueil-Écoute Center has a small but dedicated team: two nuns and a lay collaborator who receive, listen to, accompany, and assist migrants regardless of their faith or origin. The center offers tailored support to meet each person’s needs: food packages, medical assistance, occasional rent payments, vocational guidance, and even help with administrative procedures.
Among the many people who have received help is Pauline, an 11-year-old girl suffering from tuberculosis. «I had trouble breathing and was losing a lot of weight… Fortunately, Accueil-Écoute helped me. They allowed me to go to the hospital for tests. They gave me medicine, and now I’m better. I can go back to school,» she says.
In addition to emergency aid, the center also carries out long-term actions, such as literacy programs for women, distribution of milk for children, and supporting families in times of mourning. They also promote projects that help repatriated individuals reintegrate by starting an economic activity.
Despite limited resources, the team works tirelessly in the face of the many requests for help. The support of ACN—originally founded to assist displaced people—is essential for the center to continue being that discreet but decisive presence for those who have nowhere else to turn.
«Without external aid, our Church, located in the heart of an Islamic republic, would not be able to carry out works that make Christ’s presence visible in this context,» explains Bishop Victor Ndione, current bishop of Nouakchott.
Sister Marie-Ange writes to ACN: «On behalf of the Accueil-Écoute team, I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your donations help many migrants who struggle to find food, medical care, and shelter. May God reward you abundantly.»
