Mauritania-Morocco ties play an important role in regional cooperation
- Western Sahara conflict
- Mauritania and its geographical position
- The importance of Mauritanian-Moroccan partnerships
Morocco and Mauritania have security, economic and political ties, such as cooperation in border trade and bilateral agreements. Moreover, Nouakchott seeks good relations with Algeria to maintain a diplomatic balance in the region.
A recent meeting between Moroccan King Mohammed VI and Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani marked an improvement in relations between the two countries, according to North African experts.
Dr Jamal Ait Adam, a specialist in North African affairs, mentions in a report published by Modern Policy that relations between Morocco and Mauritania embody a crucial concept of regional integration due to their history and mutual cooperation.
One of the key points of this alliance is the geographical proximity between the Sahel-Saharan region and North Africa, which places them at the forefront of security threats such as terrorism, organised crime, human trafficking and illegal migration.
Western Sahara conflict
Following Morocco's independence in 1956, the country claimed Western Sahara as part of its territory and in 1975 the Green March was organised in which 350,000 citizens peacefully mobilised towards the Sahara to pressure Spain to leave the territory.
The protagonists in the conflict are Morocco, Mauritania and the Polisario Front. The latter is an independence movement fighting for the creation of a Sahrawi state and is supported by Algeria, which established the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic's government-in-exile in 1976.
Mauritania is also a key player, as it, like Morocco, claimed a part of Western Sahara that was divided in the Madrid Accords, with Morocco taking the north and Mauritania the south.
During the administration in the southern Sahara, the Mauritanian government came under attack from the Polisario Front and signed a peace agreement with the Front, renouncing its territorial claim to the Sahara in 1979.
Mauritania and its geographical position
Mauritania thus finds itself in a critical geopolitical situation due to its border relations with both Algeria to the east and the Moroccan Sahara to the north. Despite the tensions, Nouakchott maintains a neutral position in this conflict and is part of initiatives that help foster a new political and economic climate in the region, such as its participation in the gas pipeline connecting Nigeria to West African countries and Europe.
The geopolitical and security challenges facing the Sahel and the sub-Saharan region allow Mauritania to play an active role in easing the growing political crisis between Morocco and Algeria.
It is for this reason that Moroccan-Mauritanian relations reflect a consensus of strategic views, focusing on regional integration and sustainable development, as the development of the southern Moroccan provinces is key to advancing the economic strategy.
The autonomous initiative launched by Morocco takes a unified approach to transform the southern provinces into a crucial economic corridor linking Africa and Europe. Modern infrastructure, industrial zones and renewable energy highlight the potential of these areas to become global centres for investment and trade.
One of the strategic plans that give life to this concept is the Atlantic seaport of Dakhla. This represents the strengthening of maritime connectivity between Africa, Europe and South America, which stimulates regional business.
The importance of Mauritanian-Moroccan partnerships
The Mauritanian government sees this project as an opportunity to strengthen economic relations with Morocco, in addition to taking advantage of the port of Dakhla to reach international markets.
This partnership has the potential to promote joint initiatives that enhance the role of both states as key players in the regional balance of power, whether by contributing to regional security or by launching projects that encourage African integration.
Moreover, this could serve as a model for regional cooperation, strengthening the capacity of the two states and the region to address common challenges now and in the future.
This cooperation promotes sustainable development in several fields, including cybersecurity and advanced surveillance and research techniques, which will enable both countries to strengthen their defence capabilities and address emerging challenges.
Maritime and military cooperation will develop a broader network of regional partnerships involving Sahel and West African states to create a unified security framework. Joint training and experience sharing will equip the armed forces of both countries to manage unexpected challenges.
Moroccan-Mauritanian relations require a flexible and open political framework for the realisation of the strategic partnership and its capabilities. A strong economic framework is also important, as this will allow for sustainable political success.
This partnership should have a comprehensive vision that reinforces the mutual development of key financial and sustainable projects, such as regional infrastructure to reshape the geopolitical and economic situation of North Africa and the Maghreb region to build a more integrated continent.