Morocco and Mauritania Open the Amgala Crossing to Enhance Cooperation and Connectivity with the African Coast
The Kingdom of Morocco and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania are set to inaugurate a new border crossing in the Amgala area at the beginning of October. This development reflects the strength of their bilateral cooperation and opens new horizons for trade exchange and transit towards deeper Africa.
The new crossing will connect the Moroccan city of Smara with the Mauritanian city of Bir Mogrein, the largest urban center in northern Mauritania and a key hub on the road leading to Mali. This strategic addition complements the Guerguerat crossing and provides an alternative route within the land transit network towards the Sahel and Sahara countries.
From a geo-strategic perspective, this project will create a parallel trade corridor crossing the buffer zone, reinforcing Morocco’s presence in its regional context. It will also support the Atlantic initiative launched by Morocco to connect Sahel countries with the Atlantic Ocean and open new channels to global markets.
Observers believe that the opening of the Amgala crossing will give a significant boost to economic relations between Rabat and Nouakchott, providing an additional outlet for transit through Moroccan Sahara, with the potential for future crossings as part of a growing strategic partnership between the two countries.
