Senegal, Mauritania Ink Fisheries, other Deals

Mauritania and Senegal have signed a number of deals on Tuesday ranging from security, transport, energy, mining to fishing.

 

The agreements were signed during Senegalese President Macky Sall’s official visit to Nouakchott.

 

The two countries’ heads of State Mohamed Ould Ghazouani and Macky Sall reviewed the framework of their cooperation, with focus on fisheries, a key to both nations’ economies and a bone of contention over fishing rights.

According to press reports, Mauritania has lifted fines imposed on Senegalese fishermen accused of operating in Mauritanian waters, as part of efforts to improve relations with its neighbor, and Sall welcomed the move.

 

“I think that after this visit, we can be proud to speak to our fellow fishermen, even if I strongly condemned their action, because questions are not resolved by violence.
We are opening a new page in the management of fisheries agreements between our two countries,” said Macky Sall.

 

Mauritania’s coastal territories are awash with fish. The fishing industry, though still rudimentary, employs 226,000 people and contributes up to 14 per cent of the national budget.

 

Last year, China has extended Mauritania a $87 million loan to be used for the construction of a fishing harbor expected to generate 800 permanent jobs and handle around 400,000 tons of merchandise yearly.