Connecting the dots: {TESS+} successfully deploys RSOC in Mauritania

Before the RSOC deployment, Mauritania’s security communication system faced major challenges due to fragmentation and limited coverage. The Nouakchott SOC served only the capital, while UNHCR managed Bassikounou, leaving the rest of the country without coverage and no coordination between the two. When the Bassikounou radio room closed in June 2025 due to financial constraints, it severely impacted regular radio checks in the critical M’berra refugee camp, which hosts over 100,000 displaced Malians. The lack of centralisation and standardised procedures further hindered UNDSS’s ability to coordinate responses during incidents or crises.

Hitting the ground running in Nouakchott, Moaied laid the foundation by configuring the RSOC’s core system and conducting training sessions for SOC assistants and the ICT working group. These sessions ensured that local staff could operate, maintain, and escalate issues effectively from the capital, empowering them to manage field communications with confidence and technical know-how.

From the capital, the mission moved east to Bassikounou, near the Mali border and just 15 km from Mbera refugee camp. Here, Moaied and the team linked the VHF repeater to Nouakchott, allowing UN staff movements to be safely monitored from the capital. The installation will not only strengthen security coordination but also enhanced connectivity for humanitarian operations in Mbera.

The journey continued to Nema, where a repeater was installed at the UNHCR office, and then to Kiffa, in the far south, replicating the setup to ensure consistent coverage across all three towns. Each stop brought new challenges, but also new opportunities to build local technical capacity in running the SOC equipment and reinforce the RSOC’s reach.

One of the mission’s most inspiring elements was the participation of Binta Ba, a young IT telecommunications engineer from UNDP, who brought both technical expertise and a fresh perspective to the team, alongside Moaied, Adama Cheikh Tijani Diop (IT Officer, WFP Mauritania), and Jaavar Choumad (SOC Assistant, UNDSS). Reflecting on her experience, Binta shared:

Binta’s contributions included configuring equipment, installing antennas, cabling, and setting up solar panels and grounding systems. Her enthusiasm and professionalism added a dynamic layer to the mission, proving that diversity in tech isn’t just aspirational—it’s essential.

With the successful operationalization of the RSOC solution in Mauritana, UNDSS Security Advisor Sonia El Ghoul says the most significant change will be the centralisation of SOCs. With optimism, she stated:

UNDSS can (now) monitor field missions, conduct regular radio checks, and coordinate security incidents throughout the country. This system enhances personnel safety, operational effectiveness, and situational awareness, particularly in remote and border areas such as Bassikounou and Selibaby.

The collaborative effort in procuring equipment and installing the system—made possible through the active involvement of ICT professionals from multiple UN agencies—has not only strengthened technical capacity but also deepened collective understanding of the security communications framework. This joint participation fostered greater awareness of UNDSS’s coordinating role within the UN Country Team, highlighting the value of shared responsibility in building resilient operational systems.

What’s next?

Now that Moaied and team have wrapped up the field mission, the next phase involves providing remote support to the local UNDSS team as they continue expanding the RSOC network. Plans are already underway to connect Selibaby and Nouadhibou, further extending the RSOC’s reach.

With this deployment, Mauritania becomes the fourteenth country to successfully implement the RSOC solution, marking a significant milestone in security communications.

From dusty roads to equipment installations, this mission was more than a technical rollout—it was a testament to inter-agency collaboration and harnessing the transformative power of technology.

Written by: Catherine Mones (Information Management Officer, {TESS+})