Mauritania bans food exports to stabilise domestic prices

Mauritania has introduced new measures banning the export of food products outside the country, whether locally produced or imported, following a decision taken by President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani during a recent cabinet meeting.

The measures came into force last Thursday and are being enforced through tighter inspections at border crossings across the country.

Officials say the decision is part of efforts to curb rising food prices in local markets after months of noticeable increases that have fuelled public frustration. Authorities have stepped up inspections of vehicles and travellers, with food items suspected of being smuggled abroad subject to confiscation.

Stricter controls at key border crossings

The new measures focus particularly on strategic border crossings, most notably the Guerguerat crossing linking Morocco and Mauritania, one of the most important commercial corridors in the region.

Trading sources say Mauritanian authorities have imposed strict oversight on the movement of goods through the crossing, preventing food products from being informally re-exported northwards before reaching other markets in the wider region.

In recent years, unofficial reports have pointed to smuggling networks using Mauritanian territory to transport agricultural products originating in Morocco, including tomatoes, vegetables and fruit, towards southern Algeria. Some of these goods were believed to be heading to the Tindouf area, where refugee camps administered by the Polisario Front are located.

Protecting the domestic market

Government sources say the main objective of the export ban is to protect the purchasing power of Mauritanian citizens.

Informal re-export activities had placed increasing pressure on the domestic market, with considerable quantities of food leaving the country despite limited local supply. Authorities believe the ban will help stabilise prices, reduce speculation in food markets and curb cross-border smuggling.

Traders in markets in Nouakchott and several other cities have already reported a slight decline in the prices of some fruit and vegetables during the first days after the measures took effect.

Possible regional implications

The decision may also have consequences beyond Mauritania’s borders, particularly in parts of southern Algeria where some markets rely on indirect flows of Moroccan produce passing through Mauritanian territory.

Observers say the move reflects Nouakchott’s efforts to strengthen control over its borders and prevent its territory from being used as a transit route for informal trade that could affect economic stability.

Mauritania has long sought to maintain a balanced position between Morocco and Algeria regarding the Western Sahara dispute. Analysts say the latest measures appear primarily economic in nature and aimed at regulating cross-border trade rather than signalling any shift in the country’s political stance.

As economic pressures continue across the region, Mauritania appears focused on protecting its domestic market and preventing the outflow of essential food supplies, a step that could reshape informal trade routes across parts of the western Sahara region.