In Africa, Mauritania established ties with the more conservative francophone countries because all the Arab League states (except Tunisia) and the African members of the Casablanca Group (Ghana, Guinea, and Mali) supported Morocco's irredentist claims.
[1] Mauritania applied for admission to the UN in 1960, sponsored by France, but its membership was vetoed by the Soviet Union, which supported the Arab League.
[1] In January 1962 Mauritania edged away from its previously conservative, pro-French position by extending recognition to the Provisional Government of the Algerian Republic and refusing to attend meetings of the French-backed Common Saharan States Organization.
In support of Arab League and OAU positions, Mauritania did not seek ties with Israel, South Africa, or Portugal.
Close relations with France, on whom Mauritania continued to rely for much of its development aid, remained the cornerstone of Mauritanian foreign policy through the late 1980s.
From 1976 to 1979, Polisario guerrillas increased pressure on Mauritania and launched commando attacks against Fdérik, Zouerat, Bir Moghrein and Nouakchott.
On August 10, 1979, Mauritania signs the Alger Accord with the Polisario, recognizing the right of self-determination of the Sahrawis & abandoning any claim on Western Sahara.
The following year Haidalla extended diplomatic recognition and support to the SADR, an action that ultimately led to the downfall of his government.
Translated into diplomacy, this has meant pursuing a policy of strict neutrality in the Western Sahara dispute, improving relations with Morocco and Algeria, and seeking guarantees of support from France should ties with Mauritania's northern neighbors seriously deteriorate.