Senegal Pushes for ‘Economic Integration’ with Mauritania: Will It Succeed?

The new political leadership in Senegal has started strengthening its steps toward economic integration and bilateral cooperation with its northern neighbor, Mauritania, focusing on several shared issues and strategies.

In this regard, Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko called for the opening of borders between Senegal and Mauritania and the removal of all barriers hindering economic integration.

Opening Borders 

On January 14, 2025, Sonko visited Nouakchott and told Mauritanian and Senegalese businessmen, “The borders should be open, and there should be more Mauritanians in Senegal and vice versa. Together, the two countries can form a strong, integrated market.”

He emphasized that cooperation between the two nations should go beyond gas and the Senegal River basin, extending to sectors such as fishing and livestock development.

Sonko highlighted the need to accelerate joint efforts, noting that progress in Africa is much slower than it should be. “What others accomplish in one day, we achieve in a year,” he said.

He also criticized Western powers’ interference in Africa's private sector, stating, “The West stifles our private sector growth while thriving with it in their own countries in countless ways.”

Sonko called for stronger protection and enhancement of Africa’s private sector to achieve sustainable development.

Senegal-Mauritania Cooperation Secretariat

Mauritania and Senegal have agreed to explore the creation of a  Senegalese-Mauritanian Secretariat for Cooperation and Development, as well as the establishment of an annual session of the Joint High-Level Committee, to be chaired by the two prime ministers.

This was outlined in a joint statement following the visit of Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko to Mauritania and his meeting with his Mauritanian counterpart, Mokhtar Ould Djay.

The two countries tasked the Secretariat of the Joint Committee, which will be rotated between the two countries' ambassadors, to prepare and present the results of their meetings for approval by the two heads of state.

Both countries agreed on the importance of intensifying meetings between sector ministries to enhance cooperation in specific areas and promote joint initiatives for development.

They also discussed an agreement to facilitate the free movement of people and ease conditions for residency and settlement for citizens of both countries.

The two sides agreed to focus the proposed agreement on aspects related to the free movement of individuals, as well as entry, residency, and settlement conditions in both countries.

Mauritania reiterated its commitment to implementing the instructions of President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani regarding this matter promptly, and to presenting a revised agreement draft to Senegal by the end of the first quarter of 2025. This will include, in particular, new conditions for Senegalese citizens to obtain residency cards.

Both countries agreed to strengthen and activate regular meetings between administrative authorities and border defense and security forces, as well as to establish an operational framework to address common security challenges affecting both nations.

This includes tackling issues such as irregular migration and transnational organized crime; Mauritania will soon present Senegal with a draft agreement on migration.

Both sides praised the strategic and coordinated efforts between teams from both countries, which have contributed to the success of energy sector projects, overcoming challenges, and the success of the joint Grand Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) project. This success was celebrated with the joint announcement of the opening of the first well in December 2024.

Mauritania and Senegal expressed their shared will to continue and strengthen this coordination in a spirit of constant consultation, commitment, integration, and partnership based on mutual interests.

They also agreed to intensify efforts to protect their shared interests and maximize the social and economic benefits of the first and future phases of the GTA project, by supplying natural gas to their local markets as part of the Gas-to-Power strategy, and by fostering a value chain that boosts local industries and workforce participation in the projects.

The two sides praised the signing of a protocol on January 13, 2025, aimed at implementing the rules and mechanisms for local content applied to the GTA project, along with a series of measures designed to enhance the participation of the private sectors of both countries in the development of the oil and gas value chain.

The final statement covered discussions between the two nations in various sectors, including transport, fisheries, and livestock.

Both countries commended the establishment of the Mauritanian-Senegalese Business Council in October 2024. APIM and APIX, in collaboration with the private sectors of Mauritania and Senegal, also agreed to organize the second Mauritanian-Senegalese Economic Forum in October 2025 in Nouakchott.

The agencies confirmed their commitment to enhancing cooperation to identify regional integration projects through public-private partnerships, coordinated with the private sectors of both nations.

Positive Signs

In response to this visit, journalist Almustafa Ould Louli said relations between Mauritania and Senegal are witnessing a remarkable revival under the current president, Bassirou Diomay Faye, following several years of stagnation due to the bloody events of 1989, which caused significant harm to the Mauritanian community in Senegal.

“One of the indicators of this revival is the exchange of official visits, with Faye's first foreign trip as president being to Mauritania, in addition to visiting the country three times within seven months,” he told Al-Estiklal.

“The visit of Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, accompanied by most of his ministers, is also a strong indication of Senegal's commitment to strengthening this relationship.”

Ould Louli emphasized that these visits reflect a shared desire to enhance cooperation and deepen ties between the two nations.

“The bonds between Mauritania and Senegal are extremely important, as they share deep social, cultural, and historical ties. These include family connections, as many families live on both sides of the border, as well as religious ties, with both countries sharing Islam, which further fosters mutual understanding,” he said.

“The two countries share long geographic borders, making cooperation and coordination on border and security issues essential.”

He also emphasized the deep spiritual, historical, and economic bonds between the two nations that have stood the test of time.

On the economic front, Ould Louli emphasized that the Senegalese community in Mauritania is the largest Senegalese diaspora abroad, playing a significant role in providing labor, especially in traditional fishing and handicrafts.

He also mentioned the Ahmeyim gas field, located on the maritime border between the two countries, as a key economic project that could contribute to enhancing development in both nations. Agreements have been signed between the two countries to jointly manage the exploitation of this field.

The journalist also highlighted the fishing sector as a vital area of cooperation, with agreements in place allowing Senegalese fishermen to operate in Mauritania's territorial waters.

“The trade exchange between the two countries is growing, and Mauritanian-Senegalese relations are steadily advancing across various sectors. Both leaders have a strong political will to further develop and enhance these ties to serve the interests of both peoples,” he concluded.

Ongoing Cooperation

Two weeks after his presidential victory, Bassirou Diomay Faye made Mauritania his first foreign stop, marking a strong start to his presidency in March 2024.

Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani welcomed his Senegalese counterpart on Thursday, April 19, 2024, amidst significant media attention regarding the visit and its political implications.

The Mauritanian government spokesman noted that the Senegalese president's decision to make Mauritania his first foreign visit “reflects the deep brotherly relations between the two countries.”

He explained in a press conference that relations between Mauritania and Senegal “cover all areas of life, including fishing, gas, pastoral zones, as well as the spiritual ties between the two peoples,” referring to the shared religious connections in the Maliki school of thought and Sufi traditions.

The Mauritanian News Agency, the official body representing the government, published a report upon the arrival of the Senegalese president, stating that his visit is part of a long path of brotherhood, friendship, solidarity, and cooperation.

The report emphasized that both countries share a clear and mutual desire to work on building a better future through an innovative developmental path, focusing on enhancing bilateral cooperation to make Mauritania and Senegal engines of prosperity in the region.

On November 6, 2024, the joint Mauritanian-Senegalese cooperation committee concluded its meetings, resulting in the signing of several agreements.

The 13th Joint Grand Committee of Cooperation between the two nations led to agreements and memoranda of understanding in various sectors, signed by Mauritania's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohamed Salem Ould Merzouk, and Senegal's Minister for African Integration and Foreign Affairs, Yassine Fall.

Among these agreements were frameworks for cooperation in digital transformation, innovation, public administration modernization, trade, information, media, vocational training, public service, labor, sports, immigration, and aviation services.

The Mauritanian ambassador in Dakar and the Senegalese ambassador in Nouakchott also signed a memorandum of understanding on combating human trafficking and migrant smuggling.

They also agreed on a cooperation program for higher education, scientific research, and innovation, as well as a memorandum of understanding on transhumance and cooperation on animal health, veterinary public health, and livestock production.

Senegal's Minister of African Integration and Foreign Affairs highlighted that while a significant gap had occurred since the committee last convened, it has now made up for lost time by revitalizing the strategic partnership in key sectors crucial for the development of both nations.

She urged “the administrations of Mauritania and Senegal to be firm and serious in implementing the conclusions of this committee.”

Mauritania's Foreign Minister, Mohamed Salem Merzouk, stated that “the committee's session allowed for a comprehensive assessment and update on the status of bilateral relations, which cover a variety of cooperation sectors.”

He affirmed that “all the factors point towards making this cooperation exemplary.” 

“The important decisions and recommendations resulting from this session serve as a powerful catalyst, giving new momentum to the strong brotherly ties and the excellent friendship between our two countries.”

The minister emphasized his full commitment to implementing all decisions and recommendations to elevate Mauritanian-Senegalese cooperation to the highest levels.

The session of the Mauritanian-Senegalese Joint Committee demonstrated that the two neighboring countries have successfully overcome the aftermath of past crises, notably the 1989 crisis, which nearly led to direct military confrontation.

Senegalese Perspective

Political analyst Abdel Ahad Al-Rachid affirmed that there are significant joint efforts to deepen Mauritania-Senegal relations, as bilateral cooperation spans all areas, including economics, infrastructure, agriculture, livestock, fishing, border issues, migration, and more.

“The Senegalese prime minister advocates for African integration and his government places great importance on its relations with neighboring countries, particularly Mali, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Morocco, Nigeria, Ghana, and others,” al-Rachid told Al-Estiklal.

“Economic matters dominated the Senegalese prime minister's visit to Mauritania, especially since the two countries share a gas field at their border, which is crucial for both nations.”

“This marks the first time globally that two countries have jointly shared a single field without any issues, reaching an agreement through a series of meetings and negotiations,” he stated.

Al-Rachid stressed that any disputes in this area would not be substantive, as both countries are actively working toward mutually beneficial outcomes.

The political analyst also pointed out that the African Union faces pressing political challenges, particularly regarding the unstable political situations in West African countries.

“The Senegalese president is actively mediating in several of these issues, while the Mauritanian president, as the current head of the African Union, bolsters bilateral consultations on regional matters,” he said.

Al-Rachid emphasized that irregular migration is a significant challenge for both countries, requiring joint efforts to tackle this burden. He noted that an effective plan has been implemented with support from the Spanish government.

Regarding energy, al-Rachid considered this an essential topic for all African countries, noting that both Mauritania and Senegal are involved in the Morocco-Nigeria gas pipeline project, a major initiative.

“This is also a point of Mauritanian-Senegalese cooperation, given the importance of the energy and electricity sectors not only for the two countries but also for Europe,” he concluded.