Why the UN still matters across the Maghreb
In our increasingly un-reported World, well, that part of the media circus that doesn’t involve celebrity and assorted trivia,
Morocco and Mauritania are expanding bilateral cooperation with a new focus on parliamentary diplomacy and economic integration, according to Morocco World News. Nouakchott will host the first Morocco-Mauritania Parliamentary Forum on May 9–10, aimed at institutionalising dialogue between legislative bodies. The initiative, launched in 2022, has gained momentum following recent high-level visits and a December 2024 summit between King Mohammed VI and President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani.
A Mauritanian parliamentary friendship group, formed earlier this year with deputies from across the political spectrum, is tasked with strengthening inter-parliamentary ties. On the economic front, Morocco has agreed to support the creation of a stock exchange in Nouakchott, further embedding cooperation.
Meanwhile, construction of a new border crossing at Amgala—now 95% complete— signals a strategic shift in regional trade connectivity across the Sahara. The moves reflect broader efforts by both countries to align politically and economically amid shifting dynamics in Northwest Africa.
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