The question of Western Sahara’s autonomy—or lack thereof—has become a bargaining chip in Moroccan and Algerian diplomacy, with alliances shifting based on stances toward this thorny issue. Take Algeria and France, for example: ties soured rapidly after Paris officially backed Morocco’s full sovereignty over Western Sahara. Could Algeria and Mauritania be speeding toward a similar clash, with equally uncompromising stakes?
That question looms large following a circular from Mauritania’s Interior Ministry. The document formalizes the opening of a new land border post between Rabat and Nouakchott—a move that will infuriate the pro-independence Polisario Front, who see it as Mauritania tacitly recognizing Morocco’s claim over Western Sahara.
And if the Sahrawi separatists are upset, their primary backer, Algeria, certainly won’t be pleased either. For proof, look no further than Algeria’s sharp reaction to French Culture Minister Rachida Dati’s high-profile visit to the disputed territory.
Morocco, recently humbled by losses in African Union elections, has now played a savvy hand, winning over Sahel countries. Rabat holds sway in Mali and other Sahel Alliance nations, despite Algeria’s strong ties with Niger. Morocco’s trump card? Offering landlocked Sahel states a long-coveted gateway to the Atlantic. For them, this new route—and its economic promise—is worth risking a spat with Algiers.
Since 1994, when Morocco’s border with Algeria officially closed, Rabat had no eastward land access. That’s set to change this year with the “Atlantic Initiative,” championed by King Mohammed VI. Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Chad are reportedly on board. Morocco has nearly completed the 93 km of additional road linking Smara to the new border post, while Mauritania will extend its RN1 highway by a few kilometers near Bir Moghrein.
Notably, Bir Moghrein—formerly Fort Trinquet—sits just hundreds of kilometers south of Algeria’s border and the Tindouf camps, a Polisario stronghold. The separatists have threatened armed action against Mauritania if the border opens. In 2020, Polisario fighters attacked the buffer zone at the main Morocco-Mauritania crossing in Guerguerat, resulting in heavy Sahrawi casualties.
Nouakchott is handling dynamite with this historic decision. Relations with Algeria are already stormy at times, yet the two nations share deep, longstanding ties—ties President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has signaled he wants to strengthen further. So why has Mauritania suddenly swung toward Morocco when its neutral stance was perfectly poised?
Morocco’s gains in this diplomatic power play are clear, but Mauritania’s motives remain murky. Are major Moroccan investments or mega-projects on the horizon? Whatever the reason, Nouakchott has taken a bold gamble. Time will tell if the payoff justifies the risk…
