The Mauritanian Mahadhra, formerly known as the universities of the desert, defined also as traditional Quranic schools, are suspected of fuelling radical and extremist groups, regionally and internationally.

Widespread in North and West Africa, the Tijaniyya throws bridges between Maghreb and sub-Saharan peoples. But, as other Sufi brotherhoods it is loathed by Salafi extremists.

«In the past, we were mutually accusing each other of being infidels. After we come here in Morocco, we understand that these charges are not acceptable in Islam », said Mohamed Issa Coulibaly, a imam – leading the prayers of Muslims at the mosque – and a member of the second group from Mali which benefited from the training session held at the Centre for Education of Imams in Morocco.

He is a Mauritanian young man, Mr. Abdel Wadood Ould Mohamed Salem born in 1978 in Ksar district, which is the oldest district in Nouakchott, the Mauritanian capital. That is where he went to school and high school and obtained his baccalaureate degree.