Morocco's Es-Smara-Mauritania road project raised in parliament

A Saharawi deputy from the PAM, Sidi Saleh El Idrissi, sent a written question to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, relating to the road project to connect Es-Smara to Mauritania. The parliamentarian wanted to know the measures Morocco was taking to guarantee the opening of a new commercial passage between the two countries, similar to El Guerguerate.

The MP affirms that due to its geographical position, «the city of Es-Smara could constitute a suitable passage for the Sahel States towards access to the Atlantic Ocean, echoing King Mohammed VI's desire», expressed on November 6. Sidi Saleh El Idrissi addressed the same written question to the Minister of the Interior, Abdelouafi Laftite.

On February 26, a Moroccan source confirmed to Yabiladi «the start of works on the road to connect Amgala to Mauritania. Excavators from the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) have begun combing the site to prepare for the next phase of the construction site».

This project was revealed for the first time in September 2018, by the former Minister of Equipment and Transport, Abdelkader Amara, during a visit to the Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra region. This announcement came a few weeks after the opening of the Tindouf-Zouerate border crossing by the interior ministers of Algeria and Mauritania.