The security situation in the Sahel region is causing concern among Moroccan transporters, including fresh produce carriers. Elhachimi Charki, secretary general of the General Union of International and National Transport Professionals, reports dangerous working conditions, but steady transit nonetheless.

© Elhachimi Charki

Recent media reports indicated that the border between Mauritania and Mali had been closed, a claim that was subsequently denied by officials who clarified that the closure affected livestock breeders and transhumance, while the movement of goods remains uninterrupted. Charki confirms: “The reports of a border closure are false, and road traffic between Mauritania and Mali is proceeding as normal. As recently as yesterday, Moroccan truck drivers crossed the Mauritanian border to Mali to carry out their deliveries.”

The representative of Moroccan truck drivers continues: “It is true that the security situation is extremely worrying. Armed groups are active in this region and are targeting truck drivers. We have strongly advised our network of drivers to take extra precautions when traveling to Mali and Burkina Faso, including refraining from driving after 6 p.m., filling up their fuel tanks before reaching the border, and systematically using local guides. This adds two days to the transit time between Agadir and Bamako, but these precautions are necessary in a fragile security context.”

According to Charki, deliveries of Moroccan fruit and vegetables to Sahel countries remain normal. He adds: “Unlike exports to Europe, where the Moroccan season has not yet properly begun, deliveries to West Africa are busy. Products such as onions, potatoes, cabbage, and others are being exported in large quantities to the Bamako market and further to Burkina Faso.”

“We are monitoring the situation on a daily basis and doing everything we can to raise awareness among drivers. I would like to take this opportunity to highlight their important role in supplying markets and supporting economic activity, as well as the courage they show in working tirelessly in difficult conditions. The relevant authorities must pay attention to this matter, as it is becoming increasingly difficult to recruit drivers for these routes,” Charki concludes.

In January 2025, four Moroccan drivers were abducted by terrorists in Burkina Faso and were released last August.

For more information:
Elhachimi Charki
General Union of International and National Transport Professionals (Morocco)
Tel: +212661848133 (Arabic)