Mauritania and Algeria have signed an air transport services agreement and a separate memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at strengthening air connectivity and boosting bilateral cooperation.
According to an announcement from Mauritania's civil aviation authority (Agence Nationale de l'Aviation Civile - ANAC), the agreements were signed during the 20th session of the Mauritanian-Algerian Joint High Commission held in Algiers on April 6-7.
Mauritania’s transport minister, Ely Ould El Veirik, and Algeria’s interior and transport minister, Saïd Sayoud, signed the air services deal, which seeks to modernise the legal framework governing air travel and facilitate the movement of passengers and cargo between the two countries.
Separately, the head of ANAC, Ahmed Baba Ahmed, signed an MOU with his Algerian counterpart, Hassan Boulfelfel, to promote cooperation in the sector and improve operational performance in line with international standards. Officials said the agreements reflect a shared commitment to deepen economic integration and bolster the strategic partnership between the two nations.
Current commercial air links between Algeria and Mauritania consist of direct flights operated by Air Algérie between Algiers and Nouakchott.
Algeria and Mauritania have lacked a formal air services agreement before now, mainly due to historical diplomatic frictions and slow infrastructure development tied to regional disputes.
The air transport agreements were among several bilateral deals signed on the same occasion between Algerian Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb and the Prime Minister of Mauritania, Mokhtar Ould Diay.
In 2023, Air Algérie and Mauritania Airlines signed an MOU to expand cooperation on flight crew training, aircraft maintenance, and commercial activities. Under the deal, Mauritania Airlines aircraft are serviced at Air Algérie’s maintenance facilities, while Mauritanian pilots undergo training in Algeria.
