Morocco has officially announced the opening of a new international border crossing with Mauritania, a move aimed at bolstering trade, economic integration, and regional connectivity. The new crossing links Morocco’s southern city of Smara with Mauritania’s northern town of Bir Moghrein, passing through the strategically located Amgala region. The opening follows the completion of a new road that connects Smara directly to the international border.
This new border post has been authorized by Mauritania’s Ministry of Interior, which confirmed its approval on the heels of the road’s construction. The opening of the crossing is set to replace the existing Guerguerat-Nouadhibou route, which has been the primary route for cross-border transit between the two nations. The new crossing will make the movement of people and goods more efficient, providing a direct and modern route for trade between Morocco and Mauritania.
According to Morocco’s 24 Heures news outlet, the new crossing is part of a broader vision to enhance economic and trade relations between the two countries. By facilitating faster transit, it is expected to stimulate economic growth and strengthen ties across the border. The opening is seen as a key step in the realization of the Atlantic Gateway project, a large-scale initiative aimed at improving regional transport infrastructure to support both regional and international trade.
Mauritania’s Ministry of Interior highlighted that the new crossing would not only improve trade but also enhance mobility across the region, promoting broader cooperation on transport, energy, and infrastructure projects. The development of this border post is in line with several joint strategic initiatives between Morocco and Mauritania, including plans to connect the two countries’ electricity grids and high-speed internet networks. Additionally, the new border crossing plays an important role in the larger African Gas Pipeline project, which connects Nigeria to Morocco and extends through Mauritania, helping to diversify energy access in the region.
The new border crossing is also seen as a key part of the Atlantic-Moroccan Initiative, which aims to eliminate the geographical isolation of Sahel countries by creating direct access to Morocco’s and Mauritania’s ports on the Atlantic Ocean. By strengthening transport and trade infrastructure in the region, the initiative is expected to foster greater economic exchange and cooperation across the Sahel, opening new pathways for trade and development.
