Households and consumers in Mauritania are experiencing spikes in food prices. A the Nouakchott fruit and vegetable market prices surged over the days, following the sudden increase in customs taxes at the border point of Guerguérat separating Mauritania and Morocco. The Mauritanian authorities have increased customs duties by 77% on goods coming from Morocco and passing through the El Guerguérat post.
Officials in Mauritania say the tax increase will remain in effect over the next three months “to protect the interests of Mauritanian farmers” as harvests are underway. However, there is strong likelihood that Mauritania reacted to drone attacks on Mauritanian civilians, allegedly perpetrated by the Moroccan military. The move had reportedly had an immediate impact on freight forwarders, whose operations have been reduced significantly, while Mauritanian consumers have been decrying the sudden increase as unfair and a source of problems.
The Guerguérat border crossing is the main point through which the markets of the towns of Nouadhibou and Nouakchott are supplied with fruits and vegetables, generally originating from Moroccan farms. A large part of the products are intended for West African markets but a significant quantity is sold on the Mauritanian market. The products headed to the West Africa zone are not affected by the tax increase.