Join on WhatsApp
Join on Telegram
Rabat – Morocco’s Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita attended a conference alongside his Mauritanian counterpart Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed to offer an update on the state of relations between the two African nations.
Bourita stated he has been in contact with his Mauritanian counterpart “at least once a week” and commended the “constant communication” and “shared ambitions” between Ahmed and himself.
Nasser Bourita Recognizes Positive Relations Between Morocco and Mauritania
Due to the current state of relations between Morocco, Spain, and Algeria, the timing of the meeting between the two foreign ministers sent a message of goodwill.
Both figures agreed that political relations were stable between Morocco and Mauritania. “Economic relations need extra attention,” Bourita said.
The meeting between both officials comes six months after Polisario staged illegal protests in Guerguerat, blocking and hampering civil and commercial traffic for over six weeks in October and November last year, near the Moroccan-Mauritanian border.
Morocco’s government intervened, sending military forces to the region to restore peace and traffic of goods — a decision that received applause and appreciation from African and European countries.
Polisario’s acts also affected trade in Mauritania, where the price of goods rose significantly.
The meeting between the Moroccan FM and his Mauritanian counterpart comes as both countries seek to cement diplomatic ties and seek further trade cooperation.
South-South integration
“With Morocco now playing a pivotal role in sub-Saharan Africa, Mauritania will be at the center of this policy,” said Samir Bennis, Editor-in-Chief at Morocco World News.
“One of Mauritania’s grievances to Morocco was that it did not include it in its African agenda. Now we are witnessing a shift,” he added.
In the last month, Bourita has met with foreign ministers from Eswatini, the Central African Republic, Gambia, Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Equatorial Guinea, and Burundi.
The meetings all successfully resulted in establishing new economic partnerships and confirming support for Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara.
Political analysts also speculate that King Mohammed VI’s recent visits to African partners may have had an impact on Mauritania’s feelings towards Morocco.
King Mohammed VI’s last visit to Mauritania was in 2001.
In November 2020, the King invited Mauritania’s President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani to Rabat and expressed interest in a visit to Mauritania’s capital of Nouakchott.
Although the two ministers left the topic of Western Sahara untouched, Bennis stated “a visit by the King could send a clear signal and usher in a new era of renewed partnership between Morocco and Mauritania.”
In his concluding statement, Bourita said, “strong humanitarian relations and historic relations will develop into a strong, strategic partnership.”
History repeats itself
Morocco and Mauritania have historically joined forces amidst rising tensions in the region. In 1974, the two nations worked together to solve disputes over Western Sahara when Spain and Algeria colluded against Morocco’s sovereignty over the region.
Bennis believes that Mauritania is “considering seriously giving a new impetus to its ties with Morocco” as the ministers shared new goals for future developments between the two nations.
The Mauritanian minister cited a variety of new projects that focus on the exchange of job opportunities and the promotion of regional investments.
Both ministers lauded the status of relations and concluded with the message that ties between the two countries are seeing better days than ever before.
“Relations between Morocco and Mauritania have never seen better days than now.”
Data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity said that in 2019, Morocco exported $205 million (MAD 1.8 billion) to Mauritania. The main products that Morocco exported to the country, include processed fish and paper containers.
Meanwhile, Mauritania exported $3.64 million (MAD 32 million) to Morocco. The main products that the country exported to Morocco include non-fillet fresh fish, mollusks, and non-fillet frozen fish.
The two countries acknowledged that more work should be done in terms of trade between the two countries, expressing a commitment to work on investment and exchange opportunities.
