A major new road linking Smara in Morocco to the Mauritanian border is nearly finished.
Samih Zemari, regional chief of transport and logistics, confirmed the news yesterday during an on-site inspection. He says the road will cut travel time, increase safety, and ramp up trade between Morocco and Mauritania, and that signs will be erected soon.
The 93-kilometer route runs through Amkala and Tifariti communes and cost a hefty MAD 49.72 million ($5 million) to build.
The project is split into four sections. The first three – 40 km in total – were wrapped up in 2017, 2022, and 2023. The last and longest stretch – a 53 km section – is now 88 percent done, with a budget of MAD 28.23 million ($3 million).
Governor of Laayoune province Ibrahim Boutoumilat, along with local officials, visited the site at the 77 km mark to check its progress.
Fatima Saida, head of the Amkala community, commended the project, which is part of King Mohammed VI’s Atlantic initiative. She said the road would fuel business, create jobs, and give Sahel nations easier access to the Atlantic.
Officials also revealed plans for a 3,600-square-meter roadside station that will cost MAD 900,000 ($90,000), set to provide much-needed facilities for travellers. Plus, a brand-new taxi route now connects Smara to Amkala via El Kaida.
