A Moroccan official stated that the establishment of this new maritime line aligns with the royal vision, which places great emphasis on enhancing African cooperation.

Morocco and Senegal signed an agreement to launch a maritime line aimed at facilitating trade exchanges between the Kingdom and West African countries. This agreement is expected to reduce the costs of exporting Moroccan goods and solidify Rabat’s position as a gateway to the African continent.

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The agreement also comes as Morocco anticipates Algeria’s efforts to undermine the Guerguerat corridor in the Moroccan Sahara, a vital trade artery linking Morocco and West Africa. This development follows the inauguration of a border crossing with Mauritania last February by Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and his Mauritanian counterpart Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani. The move has raised questions about its economic feasibility, especially since the Moroccan corridor handles the majority of trade transactions.

Agadir hosted the signing ceremony of the maritime line agreement, presided over by the Wali of the Souss-Massa region, Saïd Amzazi, and the director of the “Atlas Marine” company in charge of the project, Gregory Darling, according to the Moroccan website Al-Sahifa.

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On this occasion, Achnakli stated that “the establishment of the Agadir-Dakar commercial maritime line is part of implementing the royal vision that places great importance on strengthening African cooperation.” He also highlighted that it “will contribute to promoting sustainable development in the Souss-Massa region,” according to the Maghreb Arab Press Agency (MAP).

Recently, Algeria has intensified its efforts to court Mauritania, driven by concerns about its declining influence in Africa and strained relations with Sahel countries. Tebboune’s visit to Nouakchott earlier this week underscores his focus on strengthening the partnership between the two nations.

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Algerian media described the visit as “significant,” noting that it was the first visit by an Algerian president to Nouakchott in nearly 37 years. While the results of the visit remain unclear, observers speculate that Tebboune aimed to alter Mauritania’s stance, historically opposed to any initiatives likely to create tensions with its neighbors, such as the proposal to form a Maghreb bloc excluding Morocco. This proposal was rejected by most countries in the region, which reaffirmed their commitment to the existing Union and called for its activation.

Algeria is seen as prioritizing its efforts to regain its declining presence in Africa rather than establishing mutually beneficial economic partnerships. Meanwhile, Morocco continues to cement its position as a gateway to Africa through various development programs, including facilitating Sahel countries’ access to the Atlantic Ocean.

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Mauritania has recently expressed its interest in strengthening ties with Morocco, reiterating its neutrality on the conflict over the Moroccan Sahara. Both nations are looking to deepen cooperation and coordination.

The new maritime line between Agadir and Dakar is expected to reduce transportation costs via the Guerguerat corridor through Mauritania, especially after the increase in customs taxes on Moroccan goods and the obstacles faced by trucks transiting through Mauritanian territory.

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The project is expected to enhance the competitiveness of Moroccan goods and ensure their flow into Sub-Saharan Africa as the Kingdom seeks to boost its trade exchanges with regional countries.