Transport in Mauritania

Citizens of Mauritania have various transportation methods. Railways and highways connect major cities in the country. Mauritania is a coastal country so there are many ports along its coast and there are a few big rivers that run through the country. Lastly, there are 26 airports spread out throughout the country.

Railways

Railways in Mauritania

717 km total of single track 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ¹⁄₂ in) (standard gauge), owned and operated by a government mining company, Société Nationale Industrielle et Minière (National Mining and Industrial Company, SNIM). The railway goes from the mines at Zouerat and El Rhein, passes another mine at Fderik, and ends at the port of Nouadhibou/Cansado.
One of the world's longest trains (up to 2.5 km long) runs here, with more than 200 wagons mainly transporting iron ore, and some carriages for passengers; alternatively, people sit on top of the iron piles.^[1]^[2]^[3]

There are no rail links with adjacent countries.

In 2008, a railway was proposed that would link Nouakchott with Tiguint, Mederdra, R'Kiz, Leguatt, Leeleibatt, Menjem Boffal, Kaedi, and Bofal.

Maps

UNJLC Map

Timeline

2014

Glencore Xstrata proposes branch lines to new mines at Askaf and Guelb El Aouj sharing infrastructure of SNIM.^[4]

2013

Proposed line for phosphate traffic - 430 km long railway line, Nouakchott and Kaedi, Mauritania's third city, through Tiguint, Mederdra, R'Kiz, Leguatt, Leeleibatt and Menjem Boffal, is to be constructed in three years time.

2008

May - 8 new EMD locomotives^[5]

2007

Sunday, August 5, 2007 - Sudan, China To Build $630 Mln Mauritania Railway.

Sudan's Danfodio Holding and China's Transtech Engineering have signed an agreement to build a 460 million euro ($634 million) railway linking Mauritania's capital Nouakchott with southern phosphate deposits at Bofal.^[6] The 430 km (270 mi) line would run close to the southern frontier with Senegal. It is hoped that the new line would link with existing lines just across the border in Senegal, Mali^[7] There is no through link to Burkina Faso. There are problems of choice of gauge.

Motorway

There are 450 km of Motorway in Mauritania (in 2010), connecting Nouakchott to Nouadhibou along a coastal route. A motorway linking Nouakchott to Rosso is under construction (due for completion in 2012).

Highways

Mauritania has only about 3,000 km (1,900 mi) of surfaced roads, 710 km (440 mi) of unsurfaced roads, and 5,140 km (3,190 mi) of unimproved tracks.^[8] The country's size and harsh climate make road maintenance and repair especially problematic.^[8] Overland travel is difficult and roadside assistance is almost nonexistent.^[8] Public transportation is not safe and road conditions in Mauritania are poor, particularly in the interior.^[8] Driving in Mauritania can be treacherous, and many Mauritanians drive without regard to traffic signs or rules.^[8] Roadway obstructions and hazards caused by drifting sand, animals, and poor roads often plague motorists.^[8]

International highways

The Cairo-Dakar Highway in the Trans-African Highway network passes through Mauritania, linking Nouakchott to Rabat, Tangiers, Algiers, and Tripoli. The section between the capital Nouakchott and the port of Nouadhibou was paved by 2018; only a few kilometres remain unpaved at the Moroccan border fr:Transport en Mauritanie. From Dakar there are links throughout western Africa.

The north-western end of the Trans–West African Coastal Highway is considered by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to originate in Nouakchott.

Waterways

Mostly ferry traffic on the Senegal River

Ports and harbours

Atlantic Ocean

(from north to south)

Senegal River

Rosso
Kaedi
Bogue

Merchant marine

None as of 2002

Airports (paved)

See Airports in Mauritania

9 in total (2002)
3 are of length 2,438 to 3,047 m
6 are of length 1,524 to 2,437 m

By city:

Aioun el Atrouss
Akjoujt
Atar International
Bir Moghrein 
Abbaye 
Boutilimit
Dahara Airport
Fderik
Kaédi 
Kiffa
Letfotar
Néma 
Nouadhibou International
Nouakchott (former airport)
Nouakchott–Oumtounsy International
Sélibaby
Tamchakett
Tichitt
Tidjikja 
Timbedra
Tazadit

Airports (unpaved)