His Excellency, the Minister of Equipment and Transport, Mr Ely Ould Eveirik, participated in a high-level working session entitled "Unlocking Africa's Connectivity Potential", within the framework of the Global Transport Connectivity Forum 2025 (GTF 2025), which took place in Istanbul, during the month of June.
The Minister stressed that Africa has enormous potential, but it needs physical and institutional bridges that unite geography, bring people together, and integrate economies. Mauritania, due to its strategic geographical location, plays a central role in connecting the north of the continent to the south and promoting African and global integration.
He reviewed Mauritania's vision in the field of transport, based on three main pillars: the integration of means of transport (air, sea, land, and rail) to strengthen the logistics system and serve continental integration; the unification of regional regulatory frameworks, particularly in the field of civil aviation, to facilitate interoperability and the movement of people and goods; and the sustainability of infrastructure, taking into account the requirements of climate adaptation and the transition to clean energy.
The Minister presented Mauritania's achievements in infrastructure and connectivity with neighbouring countries, noting the strengthening of regional connectivity with Morocco, Senegal, and Mali, as well as the strategic road project with Algeria and the construction of a strategic bridge over the Senegal River. He stated that completed projects in the road sector have exceeded 2,000 kilometres.
In the rail sector, the Minister referred to the national railway network and a proposed railway line to connect the north to the south through agricultural areas, aimed at strengthening internal economic integration. He also highlighted the country’s potential in clean energy and related development projects.
The Minister credited these achievements to Mauritania's political and security stability under the leadership of His Excellency the President of the Republic, Mr Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, recalling his role during his term at the head of the African Union, where he made support for continental infrastructure a priority.
He emphasised the importance of continental initiatives such as the African Union's Agenda 2063, the Single African Air Transport Market, and the Atlantic Corridor project. He noted challenges including insufficient investment in infrastructure, fragmented regulatory frameworks, non-tariff barriers, and inadequate financing.
The Minister concluded by calling for collective action to support investment, public-private partnerships, coordination, and joint planning, reiterating Mauritania's commitment to contributing to regional and continental initiatives that promote African connectivity and integration.
As a side note: On 16 July 2025, the European Investment Bank (EIB) approved funding for the capacity expansion of the railway line owned and operated by Société Nationale Industrielle et Minière (SNIM). This line connects the iron ore mining area of Zouerate with the port of Nouadhibou. The project includes an extension of the line to the new mining sites of El Aouj and Atomai, involving the construction of 42 km of new railway tracks to accommodate the transport needs generated by these sites.
The promoter’s investment programme also encompasses the acquisition of rolling stock (locomotives and wagons), infrastructure maintenance equipment, and the extension of maintenance facilities. The objective is to avoid a modal shift from rail to road, thereby achieving positive outcomes for climate, environmental protection, and road safety.
