Senegal and Mauritania have signed a landmark agreement to ease cross-border movement between the two countries, marking a significant step in strengthening bilateral ties and supporting regional mobility.
Signed on June 2, 2025, in Nouakchott, the deal replaces a decades-old accord from 1972 and introduces more flexible procedures for entry, stay, and residency.
Designed to balance freedom of movement with security and identification protocols, the agreement simplifies the process for Senegalese nationals entering and residing in Mauritania. Travellers may now present either a valid national identity card or passport at official entry points without the need to demonstrate subsistence funds.
The accord outlines three types of stay. For short-term visits, only a copy of the ID or passport and the original consular card are required—subsistence documentation is no longer necessary.
For long-term stays, Senegalese citizens must submit identification, a consular card, and pay a significantly reduced application fee of 5,000 FCFA (300 Mauritanian ouguiyas) for a one-year residence permit. Previously, the fee stood at 50,000 FCFA.
In a notable departure from earlier rules, applicants for long-term residence permits are no longer required to provide an employment contract or proof of income on their first request. However, renewals will still require proof of financial means.
To promote understanding of the new framework, Senegal’s Secretary of State for Senegalese Abroad, Amadou Chérif Diouf, led a mission from June 26 to 29 to inform Senegalese communities in Rosso, Nouakchott, and Nouadhibou about the updated regulations.
During the visit, Diouf also highlighted ongoing diaspora initiatives including the national census campaign “Jariñ sa Réew,” the establishment of a Diaspora Bank, and preparations for the first National Diaspora Day in Dakar in December 2025.
Additionally, the Investment Support Fund for Senegalese Abroad (FAISE) allocated 50 million FCFA in support funds to 34 groups and associations across the three cities: 29 million FCFA in Nouakchott, 15 million in Nouadhibou, and 6 million in Rosso.
Diouf appealed to Mauritania’s National Assembly President, Mohamed Bamba Ould Meguett, to expedite ratification of the agreement, a process already underway in Senegal through its parliamentary head, Malick Ndiaye.
This landmark agreement is expected to significantly enhance mobility, economic opportunity, and cooperation between the two West African neighbours.
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