After some checking and rechecking it seems the border is only open for commercial traffic.

Maybe this : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ixQBHg46Cs (note that the video comes from a hostile moroccan media)

I thought this was a given from earlier in this thread? iirc there was also an earlier thread remarkably similar. Perhaps the moderator could merge/clarify/comment/ or ignore!

Commercial traffic is still traffic, an open border, and certainly infinitely better than the adjacent Maroc - Alg border. So a positive development.

I assumed burden was able to confirm what I was only speculating on.
So now we know.

Over a year old now but possibly of interest:-

Ouverture de la route Choum -Tindouf : Une revendication pressante des Mauritaniens du Nord Est | Adrar Info

Since it is, allegedly, the season of good cheer, I indulge your latitude as this item is neither about the new border or specifically road transit but the opening up in certain terms of the north of RIM.

When the President of the National Assembly - like the Speaker of the House in the UK House of Commons, a person not without considerable power in certain circumstances - deigns to post a selfie, we can be sure this is no trifling matter. These folk mean business, and perhaps more specifically business with Algeria.

Ould Baya écrit : Un boing 737 à l’aéroport de Bir Oum Ghrein , une premiére !!! (tweet) | Adrar Info

The background to this can be traced to an earlier article about seven weeks ago:-

A propos de la zone franche de Bir Oum Ghrein | Adrar Info

It may be noted that afaik the only consistent regular service of internal flights is currently between NKC and Nouadibhou so it may be some time before we have regular touchdowns of a 737 (looks like a relatively new 800 series btw) between say Bir Moghrein and NKC or Atar.

Salaam, Zoubir.

It appears that the president has personal business interests he is promoting in the north.
Trying also to establish some govermental control over a territory where smugglers now run free.

Mauretania is a huge Free Trade Zone. Astonishingly I find Toyota parts cheaper in Nouakchott than anywhere else. Will it last?

Small update: a friend of mine met an elderly french couple in a camping in Agadir who were returning from their trip France - Oran - Tindouf (Alg) - Bir Mogrein (Mrt) - Fdeirik - Choum - Bou Lanouar - Nouadhibou. In a Hymermobil!!! So open to all after all :)

I take it they trained into NDB from some point, but that would be a great road trip.
Not been done for decades. I hope there's no catch or that it's not a one-off.
You occasionally get these fluke 'honeymoon period' cross-border transits in the Sahara.
Eg: Djanet > Ghat or Bir Mogrein > Gueltat Zemour before rules harden.

Escorted through all of Alg or Tindouf one wonders?

Don't know whether they were escorted or not.

:eek3:


In the Spring 2017 the piste Zouerat - Bir Moghrein and up to the Algerian border (via Tifariti, Bir Lehlou - the main piste used by commercial traffic Alg-Mauri - only 6x6 and 8x8 camions used) was quite challenging to do with RWD MB Sprinter 308. Many locals we met were genuinely surprised when we met ... There was no trace of any road building activities N of Zouerat ... Mauritanians are not _that_ quick in building roads ... Choum - Bou Lanuar direct?


For now, I would allow myself a bit of doubt at least regarding the vehicle used ...

me too:innocent:
waiting for more news…
RR.

Any more news?
 

Any one heard anymore news on this new crossing and whether international travellers are getting through?

Thanks

Ed

Not open to tourists, like a lot of desert borders, and not likely to be.
The Hymer was a mirage or a one-off.

An intrepid mate is trying this from the north in the next couple of days.
Will be interesting to see if he makes it.