The final statement issued at the conclusion of the working and friendship visit carried out by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Senegal
At the conclusion of the working and friendship visit carried out by the Prime Minister Mr. Mokhtar Ould Djay to the Republic of Senegal, the following final statement was issued:
1- At the invitation of Mr. Ousmane Sonko, Prime Minister of the Republic of Senegal, Mr. Mokhtar Ould Djay, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, undertook a working and friendship visit to Senegal on January 8 and 9, 2026, heading a high-level delegation.
2- This visit, which follows the visit made by Mr. Ousmane Sonko to Nouakchott from January 12 to 14, 2025, falls within the framework of the ongoing strengthening of the strategic partnership between Senegal and Mauritania, based on deep geographical, historical, cultural, and human ties, as well as a shared desire to build mutually beneficial cooperation founded on language and solidarity.
3- In this context, the two Prime Ministers held an in-person meeting in a fraternal and friendly atmosphere, followed by an expanded working session for the delegations, which provided an opportunity to discuss bilateral and regional issues.
The visit provided an opportunity to discuss bilateral and regional issues. On the bilateral level:
4 – The two senior ministers welcomed the quality of political dialogue between Dakar and Nouakchott, which was reflected in the frequency of exchanges between heads of state and government authorities, in addition to the full understanding and convergence of views on many topics.
5 – They subsequently reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining a continuous dialogue on issues of common interest, particularly in the areas of economy, energy, fisheries, security, mobility, coordinated management of migration flows, agriculture, livestock, health, transport, infrastructure, and higher education. In this regard, they agreed to revitalize the joint inter-ministerial steering committee recommended by the 13th session of the High Joint Committee for Cooperation, which is responsible for monitoring the implementation of agreements signed between the two countries. Furthermore, the two parties agreed to implement the higher education cooperation program signed on November 5, 2025.
6– During the expanded working session, the two delegations welcomed the progress made in implementing major bilateral projects, particularly the gas project for the Grand Tortue Ahmeyim field, the GTA, a symbol of the energy and industrial partnership between the two countries, and the Rosso Bridge, a strategic infrastructure for the free movement of people and goods, as well as regional integration.
7 – Special emphasis was placed on cooperation in the energy sector. In this regard, both parties welcomed the joint and historic visit by the two presidents to the platform on May 22, 2025, considering it a foundational moment marking the start of LNG production and export. They pledged to take all necessary measures to complete projects related to hydroelectric facilities and the effective implementation of the protocol concerning the local content of the GTA project.
8 – In the mining sector, both parties reaffirmed their shared desire to strengthen cooperation in the areas of mining management, responsible and sustainable resource exploitation, and oversight of artisanal and semi-industrial operations, particularly regarding gold exploration, traceability, safety, and environmental protection.
9- Regarding industry, the exchanges focused on the joint commitment to industrial development, the utilization of local resources, enhancing local content and value chains, and technology transfer.
10- Concerning the promotion of economic cooperation and trade exchanges, the two delegations welcomed the signing of the trade cooperation agreement that took place during the 13th session of the Joint High-Level Cooperation Committee held in Nouakchott on November 4 and 5, 2024. With a view to implementing this agreement, both parties committed to taking all necessary arrangements to establish the Joint Committee for Trade Cooperation as stipulated in Article 7 of the aforementioned agreement.
On the other hand, the two delegations emphasized the importance of developing mutually beneficial partnerships between the private sectors of both countries, as well as removing obstacles to trade. In this regard, both parties appreciated the suspension of cargo unloading at the borders since November 2025 following the meeting of the relevant administrations. The establishment of a shipping office and the implementation of a digital platform for managing exchanges will contribute to strengthening connectivity in this field.
11 – At the same time, the ministers responsible for infrastructure and transport were invited to work with the relevant authorities and companies to remove all potential obstacles in order to accelerate work on the Rosso Bridge to deliver it on the required schedule. They also encourage the diligent implementation of the navigation project, which is currently being developed within the framework of the Senegal River Basin Development Organization (OMVS), which would facilitate the movement of goods and services in all seasons, open the river to international trade via the oceans, and expand trade within the basin region between the two countries.
12 – In the fisheries sector, the two ministers agreed to renew the protocol signed in June 2024 for a period of twelve months, starting from November 13, 2025, in accordance with the bilateral agreement on fisheries and aquaculture dated February 25, 2001. They also agreed to expand bilateral cooperation in combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, inland fisheries, aquaculture, and the sanitary control of fishery products.
13- In the context of the Rift Valley fever outbreak, the two delegations requested that the ministers responsible for health and livestock strengthen cooperation in the health sector by pooling more response resources and focusing on prevention, public awareness, and education.
14- With the same attention, they also agreed to work on enhancing cooperation in livestock breeding, especially cross-border grazing, through the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding regulating grazing signed on April 25, 2006, and the Memorandum of Understanding on additional cooperation in the fields of animal health, veterinary public health, and livestock production, signed on February 26, 2013.
15 – From this perspective, the two delegations agreed on the anticipated launch of the “Regional Project for the Integration and Modernization of Livestock Production Systems” Mauritania/Senegal, which focuses on establishing and organizing community agricultural cooperatives aimed at livestock development along the valley and grazing corridors. This project will seek to achieve the dual goal of self-sufficiency in milk and monitoring livestock feed, particularly by encouraging fodder crops. The two delegations also agreed to reactivate the joint committee responsible for implementing, monitoring, and evaluating the measures stipulated in the protocols.
16 – During the meeting, the exemplary nature of military cooperation was praised, characterized by joint operations and regular exchanges between the armed forces of both countries. In this regard, it was agreed to expand operational cooperation to include other defense and security forces in order to better address the shared security challenges between the two countries.
17 – The issue of mobility and the coordinated management of migration flows was the subject of in-depth exchanges between the two delegations, which, after recalling the longstanding cultural and humanitarian ties between the two peoples, committed to continuing efforts towards the social and economic integration of the communities on both sides, enabling them to fully play their role as economic actors and bridges between the two countries.
18 – In the same spirit, they also pledged to take the necessary measures to ensure the full implementation of the Agreement on the Conditions of Entry, Residence, and Settlement for the citizens of the two countries, signed on June 2, 2025. To this end, they decided to form a joint bilateral committee by the end of February 2026 to monitor the implementation of this agreement.
19 – In other areas of administrative, economic, and social activity, particularly culture, education, tourism, livestock breeding, cross-border cooperation, mining, crafts, higher education, documentation, and archives, the exchanges were characterized by a shared desire to exploit many avenues of cooperation identified during the discussions. To this end, it was decided to hold the fourteenth session of the Grand Joint Cooperation Committee in Dakar in 2026, presided over by the two Prime Ministers.
At the regional and international level
20- The two delegations welcomed the complete convergence of their views on many regional and international issues, particularly global challenges such as climate change, combating land degradation through the Great Green Wall, and fighting terrorism and violent extremism, whose consequences could hinder development efforts in both countries.
21- Accordingly, the two prime ministers decided to enhance alignment between the two countries’ positions within various regional and international organizations such as the African Union, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the United Nations, and others, with the aim of finding solutions that meet the aspirations of the peoples and the interests of the two countries.
22- In the same context, the two prime ministers requested that the concerned ministers work together to strengthen cross-border cooperation and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of joint regional organizations such as CILSS, OMVS, and the African Agency for the Great Green Wall.
23 – The two prime ministers expressed their appreciation for the friendly atmosphere and candid discussions that characterized the working session, and they agreed to maintain continuous and direct dialogue to enhance the positive dynamics of Senegal-Mauritania relations.
24 – During his stay, Prime Minister Mokhtar Ould Djay received His Excellency Mr. Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye, President of the Republic of Senegal, and conveyed to him a message of friendship, brotherhood, and solidarity from His Excellency Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.
25 – At the conclusion of his visit, Prime Minister Mr. Mokhtar Ould Djay expressed his satisfaction with the success of the visit and repeated his thanks to Mr. Ousmane Sonko and the people and government of Senegal for the warm welcome, as well as for the many gestures of attention he and the accompanying delegation received during their stay.
Issued in Dakar on January 8, 2026
On behalf of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania
Mr. Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Mauritanians Abroad
On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Senegal
Mr. Cheikh Niang, Minister of African Integration, Foreign Affairs, and Senegalese Abroad.