A new maritime route connecting Morocco and Senegal aims to enhance intra-African trade.
The Senegalese newspaper “Lesoleil” reported significant interest in a new project to establish a commercial maritime line linking the Moroccan city of Agadir with Senegal’s Dakar, expected to be operational before the end of 2025.
This initiative follows a protocol agreement signed on December 11, 2024, between the British company Atlas Marine and the Souss-Massa region, aimed at stimulating trade exchanges and expanding partnerships between the two countries, in addition to supporting intra-African trade.
The route will be operated using RoRo-Passenger (RoPax) ships, providing a practical and secure alternative to land transport, which often faces challenges related to operating costs, security risks, and fatal road accidents.
Moroccan economic actor Ayoub Alawi welcomed the project, emphasizing that it arrives at an opportune moment, stressing that “the brotherly ties between the two peoples are strong, and it is time to translate them into tangible economic projects.” He added that the maritime link will contribute to increasing the pace of intra-African trade and serve as a platform for expansion into East African markets and the Sahel region, benefiting from the strategic position of the Port of Tangier Med as Africa’s gateway to the world.
Senegalese expert in parallel cooperation, Hajj Moussa Dian, considered the maritime connection an opportunity to market Senegalese products in Morocco, particularly mangoes, which face an oversupply. Dian urged his country’s authorities to leverage Moroccan experiences in packaging stations and logistics infrastructure and suggested establishing a Senegalese bank in Morocco to enhance financial cooperation, underscoring the importance of structuring the Senegalese economy and moving away from the informal sector.
The project hopes to reduce transportation costs and facilitate the flow of goods between Morocco and West Africa, opening new horizons for investment, in line with the shared economic vision between Rabat and Dakar.
