Morocco stands as Mauritania’s principal trading partner and the foremost investor on the African continent, said Morocco’s Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita on Monday.
This came during Bourita’s meeting with his Mauritanian counterpart, Mohamed Salem Ould Marzouk, who is presently on a working visit to Morocco. The two officials emphasized the strong and unique relationship between Morocco and Mauritania, which is founded on historical, geographical, and ancestral connections.
During their discussions, the ministers addressed various matters of mutual interest, including the situation in the Sahel region, as well as those of regional and international concerns. Bourita expressed Morocco’s view of Mauritania as a pillar of stability in the Sahel, a region which the Kingdom seeks to integrate into its royal initiative aimed at facilitating access to the Atlantic Ocean and promoting maritime trade. He emphasized that Mauritania is an indispensable and integral part of this initiative.
The officials also affirmed the success of the two countries’ bilateral cooperation, recalling the fourth meeting of the Joint Commission held in November. Bourita further confirmed that Mauritania is a crucial component of the Royal Atlantic Initiative, highlighting its significant position and role in this major economic endeavor which clearly benefits the Sahel countries.
He added that there is ongoing close communication between Nouakchott and Rabat on all matters, and stressed the special significance of the current visit under the instructions of President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani. Bourita pointed out that Morocco extends its support to Mauritania at both local and regional levels, as evidenced by the recent communications between the leaders of the two countries.
Ould Marzouk asserted that Mauritania and Morocco are collaborating to address the issue of increased customs duties imposed on trucks carrying goods at the El Guerguerat border crossing.
Recently, there has been a substantial rise in customs duties, with each large truck now required to pay an estimated tariff of almost 60,000 MAD upon entering Mauritanian territory, compared to the previous 28,000 MAD.