After battling armed attacks, Mauritania attempts to revive tourism

Mauritania Sees Revival as Travel Destination Amid Security Measures

A 49-year-old woman, Fatima Cheikh Mohammad Bouya, tends to her desert camp near the Richat Structure in Mauritania’s Adrar Region. The structure, also known as the “Eye of Africa,” is a natural landmark that can only be fully seen from the sky.

Bouya hopes to attract travelers and tourists to her area, which has been a popular destination in the past but saw a decline due to security concerns. In the mid-2000s, armed groups linked to al-Qaeda began targeting areas across the country, including the capital, Nouakchott.

The government responded by strengthening its security apparatus, deploying elite military units to border areas and engaging religious leaders to preach against extremism. Quranic schools were also placed under closer scrutiny, while pathways into formal education were expanded.

According to Sean Connolly, a travel expert, Mauritania is now experiencing a resurgence in tourism due to improved safety measures. “Mauritania is left at the top of an increasingly short list of destinations where you can freely and safely explore the Sahara,” he said.

The country’s landscape blends the Sahara with the Atlantic coast, reflecting influences from both regions. In the past, about 30,000 tourists visited annually, but this number declined due to security concerns.

In recent years, the government has stepped up marketing campaigns, which have shown early signs of success. The Richat Structure is one of Africa’s most striking natural landmarks, measuring approximately 40km in diameter and resembling a vast eye from the sky.

Locals like Bouya are benefiting from Mauritania’s revival as a travel destination. She hopes to attract travelers who can stay overnight under the desert sky, renting out tents and serving dinner. The area is also home to hundreds of locals who have been impacted by the country’s slow revival.

Tourism in Mauritania has experienced a golden age in the past, with visitors arriving in large numbers during the cooler months between November and February, particularly from France. Many came for the Dakar Rally, an off-road motor race that once ran from Paris through harsh desert terrain to Dakar.

Source: Al Jazeera