Foreign investors must navigate several persistent challenges. First, the regulatory and administrative environment remains cumbersome. While the new investment code of 2024 provides guarantees for profit repatriation, the pace of licensing, customs, and visa processes can be slow, requiring careful planning and local support. Anti-corruption rankings remain low, with Mauritania scoring around 30/100 on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index. Second, infrastructure bottlenecks are significant. Power generation capacity has increased, but grid reliability remains uneven outside of major cities. Transport corridors are limited, and overland connectivity with neighbors such as Mali and Senegal is improving only gradually.
Third, Mauritania’s fiscal position is exposed to commodity price fluctuations. Iron ore and gold revenues, and now LNG receipts, can swing sharply with global prices, which in turn affects the state’s ability to pay contractors and fund projects. This volatility makes long-term planning more complex. Finally, environmental and social standards are tightening. Both international lenders and the government require stricter compliance with environmental impact assessments, community engagement, and local content provisions—especially for large projects in sensitive desert, coastal, or riverine ecosystems.
Market Challenges
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