President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani pledged in his campaign for the 2019 Mauritanian presidential election to build rail lines in Nouakchott to alleviate the mobility problems of the city.
[1] On 21 July 2022 the then Minister of Equipment and Transports Moktar Ahmed Yedali signed a memorandum of understanding with the President of the Administration Council of Arab Contractors Seyed Farouk to build two tramway lines in the capital of Mauritania, Nouakchott.
After approving its final version, the Arab Contractors company, at its own expense, will conduct a technical study to know the characteristics of the train track, within a maximum period of one year, provided that it plays the role of assistant to find a financier to finance the project.
[1] The advisor to the Minister of Equipment and Transport in charge of port, river and railway affairs, Yahya Ismail Bahdah, indicated that "after the completion of the study and the agreement of the financier with the Mauritanian side on the method of repayment of the loan, the exemption period and the interest rate and its approval by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the actual work of the project will begin, with the occupancy period and the type of trains being specified in the aforementioned study".
[1] The reasons cited by the Ministry for the project were its positive impact on the climate by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and global warming, contributing to improve traffic and mobility in the city and strengthening the tourism sector in Mauritania.