Mauritania's second Nouakchott emergency development program will cost about 115bn old ouguiyas, or 11.5bn MRU (€255mn), over 16 months, the economy minister said, according to newspaper Le Calame. President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani launched the program on November 5. It includes 83 kilometers of urban roads, five interchanges and 510 classrooms. The first program cost 69bn old ouguiyas, or 6.9bn MRU (€153mn), also over 16 months, the newspaper said.
Analysis: The second phase is two-thirds bigger than the first, by our calculation, and close to the 11.59bn MRU (€257mn) set out for it in the draft 2027 budget. Reports of the first phase's output differ, however. Le Calame gives 145.3 kilometers of roads and bypasses. Meanwhile, TRUST Magazine, republished by Cridem, gives 68 kilometers, and neither cites a completion report. Spread over 16 months, the new budget implies spending of about 719mn MRU (€15.9mn) a month, by our calculation, which matters to road builders and suppliers of cement, steel and electrical equipment. Utility SOMELEC tendered 41 Nouakchott substations under the program in August. However, no date has been published for the road and school contracts.
Source: Le Calame, Le Calame, 'Le ministre de l'Économie détaille le bilan du premier programme d'urgence de Nouakchott et les investissements prévus pour la seconde phase' (November 5, 2026), Second phase (16 months from November 2026) and First phase (16 months) and Second phase and First phase; Cridem (aggregator of Mauritanian press), TRUST Magazine, republished by Cridem, 'Nouakchott : 184 milliards MRO mobilisés pour le programme d'urgence de développement de la capitale' (November 5, 2026), First phase; Ministère des Finances, Mauritanie, Ministère des Finances, Projet de loi de finances pour l'année 2027 (Octobre 2026), exposé général des motifs and tax provisions, Phase II (from 2027); Société Mauritanienne d'Électricité (SOMELEC), SOMELEC tender notice No. 10-CMI-2026 (August 4, 2026), Tender issued August 4, 2026