Transport in Mauritania

Citizens of Mauritania have limited access to transportation. The single-line railroad serves mining interests with very occasional ad hoc passenger services. Apart from two infrastructural road developments there few paved roads.

Railways



 * 717 km total of single track (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.

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.

2007
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. The 430 km 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 There is no through link to Burkina Faso. There are problems of choice of gauge.
 * Sunday, August 5, 2007 - Sudan, China To Build $630 Mln Mauritania Railway.

2008

 * May - 8 new EMD locomotives

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.

2014

 * Glencore Xstrata proposes branch lines to new mines at Askaf and Guelb El Aouj sharing infrastructure of SNIM.

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 3000 km of surfaced roads, 710 km of unsurfaced roads, and 5,140 km of unimproved tracks. The country's size and harsh climate make road maintenance and repair especially problematic. Overland travel is difficult and roadside assistance is almost nonexistent. Public transportation is not safe and road conditions in Mauritania are poor, particularly in the interior. Driving in Mauritania can be treacherous, and many Mauritanians drive without regard to traffic signs or rules. Roadway obstructions and hazards caused by drifting sand, animals, and poor roads often plague motorists.

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

Atlantic Ocean
(from north to south)
 * Nouadhibou
 * Nouakchott

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)
See Airports in Mauritania


 * 17 in total (2002)
 * 2 are of length 2,438 to 3,047 m
 * 5 are of length 1,524 to 2,437 m
 * 7 are of length 914 to 1,523 m
 * 3 are of length under 914 m