Last week, the Federation of Associations and Groups of Senegalese in Mauritania (Fagsem) staged a 48-hour strike in protest at ‘raids and abuses’. In response, Senegal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that a ‘fair and lasting’ solution had been found with Nouakchott. This is yet another episode in the ongoing challengesSenegalese people living in this neighbouring country face.

The situation has once again become difficult for many Senegalese nationals living in Mauritania. Recently, the Senegalese community organisation Fagsem initiated a nationwide work stoppage across Mauritania. This action was taken in protest against what it described as “the roundups and mistreatment” to which many Senegalese nationals are subjected, despite the recent bilateral agreements between Senegal and Mauritania. 

“Some of our compatriots have been arrested at home, others at their workplaces and even on the street,” Fagsem reported, denouncing what it sees as ongoing abuses. In response to these developments, the Senegalese government has engaged in diplomatic consultations with Mauritanian authorities in Nouakchott. According to official sources, these talks have led to the adoption of a solution deemed beneficial to all parties and expected to be sustainable. 

The Senegalese Ministry of African Integration and Foreign Affairs has announced that the provisional implementation of the bilateral agreement governing the movement of people between the two countries is scheduled to begin on 25 July 2025. A press release from the same ministry stated: “In view of the difficult situation experienced by many Senegalese nationals in Mauritania, the Senegalese and Mauritanian authorities have initiated discussions aimed at finding a fair and lasting resolution.” Following these discussions, the two countries agreed to provisionally implement the Agreement on the Conditions of Entry, Residence and Establishment of Persons and their Property, signed on 2 June 2025, with effect from 25 July 2025.

Foreign Ministry’s intervention

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has intensified its efforts to alleviate the difficulties faced by Senegalese nationals living abroad, particularly in Mauritania. Following high-level discussions with the Mauritanian authorities in Nouakchott, the ministry, under the leadership of Hon. Yacine Fall, announced key measures aimed at improving the treatment and legal status of Senegalese residents in the country. 

Among the most notable developments is the exemption of Senegalese citizens from paying certain fees related to their stay in Mauritania. However, individuals who have resided in the country for more than three months will now be required to obtain a residence permit. “They must report to the designated registration centers with a valid national identity card or passport, as well as a consular card and pay a fee of 300 ouguiyas (approximately 4,200 CFA francs),” the Ministry specified. 

The Ministry of African Integration and Foreign Affairs also affirmed that authorities on both sides “will ensure the rigorous implementation of the agreement” signed earlier this year. The Senegalese government expressed appreciation for the “excellent spirit of cooperation” demonstrated by Mauritania, reaffirming the strong ties of friendship and fraternity between the two nations. In a statement addressed to the Senegalese community in Mauritania, the Ministry called on citizens to “scrupulously respect the laws and regulations” of the host country. It further reassured them of the government’s continued “empathy and solidarity.” A letter dated 17 July underlined this commitment: “The Senegalese Embassy in Mauritania will work closely with the Mauritanian authorities and the Senegalese community to ensure that our compatriots benefit from dignified living conditions.”

Fagsem’s conclusion on the matter

The Senegalese community organization Fagsem, has reiterated its appeal for an end to arbitrary raids and abusive arrests targeting Senegalese nationals in Mauritania. The group is calling for full recognition of the legal documents held by Senegalese citizens, along with expanded access to residence permit application centres across the country. In addition, Fagsem has urged the Senegalese government to strengthen its consular support for nationals residing in Mauritania. The organisation emphasised the importance of ensuring that both Mauritania and Senegal effectively implement the bilateral agreements governing the movement and residence of their respective citizens. “Relations between our two peoples run deep, shaped by a shared history, cultural ties, religious affinities and geographic proximity,” Fagsem stated. “It is our collective duty to preserve this peaceful coexistence, as Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani often reminds us.”