China backs Mauritania’s push for stronger food storage capacity

MAURITANIA – Mauritania and China have signed a financing agreement to construct a large food storage warehouse in Nouakchott, as part of efforts to improve food security in the West African nation.

The agreement was signed on May 28, 2025, between Kodoro Moussa Anknor, Mauritania’s Minister Delegate to the Minister of Economy and Finance in charge of the Budget, and Tang Zhongdong, the Chinese Ambassador to Mauritania.

According to the Mauritanian News Agency (AMI), the planned warehouse will have the capacity to store up to 30,000 tonnes of food.

The facility will serve the Food Security Commission and is expected to improve Mauritania’s ability to respond to food crises, support local supply systems, and reduce the country’s dependency on imports.

The move comes as part of a broader push to strengthen food sovereignty in a country that continues to face severe climate and land challenges.

Toward self-sufficiency

Mauritania’s agricultural landscape remains fragile. With just 0.4 percent of its territory fit for farming, the country heavily relies on food imports.

Droughts, floods, and other climate shocks often leave its population vulnerable to shortages and price surges. Government officials see this new warehouse as a vital asset.

“This project… aims to strengthen the country’s food security, improve the response to crises and support national food sovereignty,” the authorities stated, as quoted by AMI.

The Chinese Ambassador said the warehouse agreement shows the strong cooperation between the two nations.

“This agreement reinforces bilateral cooperation and aligns with efforts to address food security challenges,” Tang Zhongdong said during the signing event.

Beyond the warehouse, other efforts are also ongoing. The SECURALIM programme, for example, seeks to increase production in both farming and livestock while making the entire food system more reliable in the face of shocks.

The World Food Programme (WFP) continues to support these national efforts by working with smallholder farmers and helping families who are at risk of food insecurity.

However, barriers remain. Many rural communities still lack good infrastructure, market access is weak, and poverty levels remain high, especially in areas affected by climate stress.

Broader collaboration in progress

The government has welcomed China’s growing involvement in its development goals. Officials say this is not an isolated project but part of ongoing support from China across different sectors.

“The Mauritanian government has expressed gratitude to China for its continued support in economic and social development,” said AMI.

With the warehouse project moving ahead, both countries are expected to deepen their ties further as they explore other ways to work together on food and development issues.

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