More than 80 Moroccan freight trucks remain stranded at the Rosso border crossing between Mauritania and Senegalafter being diverted from the Mali route because of ongoing security concerns, Morocco’s General Union of International and National Transport Professionals said.
Union President Chergui El Hachmi said dozens of Moroccan trucks turned to the Senegal corridor as a temporary alternative after access through Mali remained effectively closed due to the deteriorating security situation. However, customs procedures at the Rosso crossing have significantly delayed their passage, he said.
According to El Hachmi, the stranded trucks were carrying goods bound for Senegal, Mali and Burkina Faso. He claimed that border authorities give priority to Senegalese and Mauritanian drivers from the morning until 4 p.m., leaving Moroccan truck drivers with only two to two-and-a-half hours to cross each day.
As a result, only eight to 10 Moroccan trucks are able to pass through the border daily, he said.
El Hachmi described the conditions faced by drivers as severe, citing temperatures ranging between 48 and 50 degrees Celsius (118 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit) and a lack of basic facilities, including access to food, showers and rest areas.
He said the prolonged delays have caused significant losses, particularly for shipments of perishable goods such as vegetables, fish and other food products.
Calling the situation unsustainable, El Hachmi urged Moroccan transport operators to suspend new shipments and avoid sending additional trucks until the situation improves.
He also called on Mauritanian authorities to intervene and find an urgent solution to the congestion at the Rosso crossing, arguing that the delays have already resulted in substantial financial losses for transport companies.
The union warned that Moroccan truck drivers could launch protest actions if the situation persists, including a complete suspension of freight transport to African markets until a lasting solution is reached.
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