Mauritania's President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz appeared on state television Sunday to say he is in good health after being shot by soldiers, in what he described as an accident.

Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz was lightly wounded by friendly fire after his vehicle was fired upon by the military near the capital, Nouakchott late Saturday. (Associated Press)

Aziz was wounded after his vehicle was fired upon by the military, 40 kilometres north of the capital, Nouakchott, late Saturday.

"I want to calm all citizens. The operation last night was a success thanks to the effectiveness of the medical team," he said in the broadcast.

"I want to reassure everyone about my state of health after this incident committed by error by an army unit on an unpaved road near Touela. Thanks to God, I am doing well," he said.

It's unclear why the military opened fire on the presidential motorcade, but reports in local media indicated the military unit had not been told of the president's trip to the desert.

Mauritania's minister of communication, Hamdi Ould Mahjoub, said Aziz was lightly wounded and his life was not in danger

Aziz was was initially taken to the military hospital in Nouakchott, but Mahjoub told Reuters the president was then flown to France on Sunday for additional medical treatment.

With files from The Associated Press