Rosso (Mauritania): border town on the Senegal River, capital of Trarza

A border town on the Senegal River

Rosso is the capital of the Trarza region, in south-western Mauritania. The town stands on the right bank of the Senegal River, which marks the border: across the water, on the left bank, lies Rosso-Sénégal. It is 204 km south of Nouakchott, at the head of the stretch of river that is navigable all year round.

A major crossing point between Mauritania and Senegal, Rosso lives to the rhythm of the ferry and the pirogues linking the two banks. Another crossing exists 90 km to the west, over the Diama dam. The commune covers 717.5 km² and had 61,156 inhabitants in 2023 (51,026 at the 2013 census, 33,518 of them in the town itself).

Pirogues moored on the Mauritanian bank of the Senegal River at Rosso — Pirogues on the Mauritanian bank of the Senegal River, at Rosso (2013). Photo: Pauldebos, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

A little history

The town developed in the area of the former Kingdom of Waalo, which emerged from the break-up of the Jolof Empire in the 16th century; one of its districts still bears the name Ndiourbel, that of the old capital. First a staging post for the gum arabic trade, Rosso hosted trading companies and a French military base during the colonial period. The Xavier-Coppolani college, which became the Lycée de Rosso and then the Institut supérieur d’enseignement technologique (ISET), trained a large part of the country’s senior staff.

Aerial view of Rosso on the Senegal River in December 1967 — Rosso seen from the air in December 1967, on the Senegal River. Photo: John Atherton, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

The ferry and the future bridge

For decades the crossing has been made by ferry and by pirogue. A bridge is to take over: the Rosso bridge, a structure of about 1,461 metres including its approach viaducts, completed by 8.4 km of connecting roads and two roundabouts. Its cost, €87.62 million excluding taxes, is financed by the African Development Bank (€40.75 M), the European Investment Bank (€22.33 M), the European Union (€20.5 M) and the two states (€5 M). Approved in December 2016 and launched in 2021, the works have fallen behind schedule: in early 2026 the two governments demanded completion within the year, with opening to traffic announced for 2027. The bridge is a link in the Cairo–Dakar coastal corridor.

The Rosso ferry docking on the bank of the Senegal River, with passengers and a truck — The Rosso ferry docking (2017). Photo: Gregor Rom, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Economy and daily life

Rosso is known as a major agricultural town. In Trarza, of which it is the capital, people live from trade, agriculture, fishing and livestock; the region had 323,903 inhabitants in 2023.

Painted front of a veterinary pharmacy in Rosso, with cows and camels — A veterinary pharmacy in Rosso (2007): livestock is part of Trarza’s economy. Photo: Ji-Elle, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Climate

Rosso has a hot desert climate, classified BWh in the Köppen classification: heat all year round and scarce rainfall.

Rosso and the ARD

Rosso is where the Association des Rossossois de la Diaspora focuses its work: refurbishment of the Tekeuch, Ndiourbel and Mairie B schools, school canteens, support for healthcare and women’s empowerment. Discover our projects, test your knowledge with the Rosso quiz or join the ARD.