Mauritania confirms plans to create a stock exchange

A strategic partnership with the Casablanca Stock Exchange

The Central Bank of Mauritania has formalized its plans to set up a securities exchange in Nouakchott in association with the Casablanca Stock Exchange.
On April 17, 2025, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the two institutions, providing for technical support and a capacity-building program for Mauritanian players.

Drawing on its experience in the region, the Casablanca Stock Exchange will support Mauritania in the technical and institutional structuring and training required to launch the stock market.

A project relaunched after an initial attempt in 2014

The creation of a financial market in Mauritania is not a new idea.
As early as 2014, the Central Bank had stated its ambition to capture national savings to support the financing of local businesses. A law had even been passed to institute four major bodies: the Nouakchott Stock Exchange, a regulatory authority, a central depository and a guarantee fund.
However, in the absence of concrete action, this project had remained on hold. The recent signing of the protocol marks a serious revival after more than a decade of waiting.

The economic stakes of a stock exchange in Mauritania

The aim of setting up a stock market is to :

• Facilitate access to long-term financing for local businesses, especially SMEs, through the issue of shares and bonds;
• Provide the government with new internal financing leverage by issuing public securities;
• To offer savers a new investment alternative, thereby encouraging the mobilization of national savings.

Through this project, Mauritania also aims to join the regional dynamic by following the successful examples of African stock markets such as those in South Africa, Morocco, Nigeria, Kenya and BRVM member countries.

Conclusion

With the support of the Casablanca Stock Exchange, Mauritania is relaunching its stock market project, a strategic lever for boosting its economy, strengthening local financing and better mobilizing national savings. This initiative is part of a drive for regional integration and alignment with the best financial practices on the African continent.