Senegalese President Visits Mauritania to Discuss Key Bilateral Issues

Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye made a one-day friendship and working visit to neighboring Mauritania on Thursday. During the visit, Faye held talks with his Mauritanian counterpart Mohamed Ould Ghazouani to discuss several key issues between the two West African nations.

The main focus of the discussions was the joint exploitation of the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) liquefied natural gas field located on the maritime border between Senegal and Mauritania. The GTA field, discovered in 2015, is expected to begin production later this year and could produce up to 10 million tonnes of gas per year by 2030. British oil major BP and American company Kosmos Energy are leading the development of the project.

The two leaders also addressed the ongoing construction of the Rosso bridge, which will provide a vital trade link between Senegal and Mauritania once completed. Other topics on the agenda included the renewal of fishing licenses for Senegalese fishermen operating in Mauritanian waters and security cooperation to counter the jihadist threat in the Sahel region.

Why this matters: The GTA gas field is seen as a crucial asset for the economic development of both Senegal and Mauritania. The visit by President Faye, his first official trip abroad since being elected in March as Africa's youngest democratically elected leader, underscores the importance of strengthening bilateral ties and cooperation between the two neighboring countries.

Several Senegalese ministers accompanied Faye on the visit, including those responsible for the presidency, justice, fisheries, and transport. "The visit reflects President Faye's desire to work with Mauritania on various areas of cooperation, including security, hydrocarbons, water, the environment, energy, fisheries, agriculture, public finance, and transport infrastructure," a Senegalese government statement said.

After concluding his visit to Mauritania, Faye is expected to travel to The Gambia on Saturday for his second official trip abroad since taking office on April 2. The Senegalese leader has vowed to prioritize the development of the oil, gas, and fishing sectors in his country.

Key Takeaways

• Senegalese President Faye visited Mauritania to discuss joint exploitation of GTA gas field.
• The GTA field, discovered in 2015, is expected to produce up to 10 million tonnes of gas by 2030.
• The leaders also discussed the ongoing construction of the Rosso bridge linking Senegal and Mauritania.
• The visit underscores the importance of strengthening bilateral ties between the two West African nations.
• Faye is expected to visit The Gambia next, as he prioritizes developing Senegal's oil, gas, and fishing sectors.