Senegal and Mauritania Deepen Cooperation on Cross-Border Development

Senegal and Mauritania have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, highlighting the need for a long-term strategic approach to cooperation and the joint management of shared border areas.

Speaking at a joint press briefing, officials from both countries said enhanced collaboration would help consolidate existing achievements while creating new opportunities for innovative initiatives and large-scale development projects.

They also emphasised the importance of practical measures to further reinforce the strategic partnership. A key example cited was the Grand Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) gas project, located along the maritime border between the two countries. The project was described as a successful model of cross-border cooperation grounded in mutual trust, political stability and economic integration.

The Senegalese Prime Minister said the visit marked exactly one year since his trip to Nouakchott, which he described as a turning point in efforts to deepen ties between the two neighbours. He characterised the current engagement as a renewed affirmation of the “special and unique” relationship between Senegal and Mauritania.

He noted that the two countries are bound not only by geography but also by a shared history and common future, particularly in the joint management of natural resources.
Discussions extended beyond energy cooperation to include fisheries, livestock farming, agriculture, population settlement along the border and overall border management. The leaders also reviewed progress on major infrastructure projects, including the Rosso Bridge, and agreed on the need to build on recent advances.

Both sides reiterated their determination to pursue closer cooperation and underscored the importance of adopting a coherent strategic vision to guide bilateral relations and cross-border governance going forward.