Summary:

On 9 June 2026, leaders of the opposition, including the Pôle de la Coordination de l’Opposition Démocratique (PCOD), criticized the government’s fuel pricing policy and the continued reliance on Addax Energy, a Swiss-based energy trading firm, as the main hydrocarbons supplier since 2016, arguing that this has contributed to repeated price increases and limited market competition.

The debate comes amid broader political consultations in Nouakchott on economic pressures, during which the government defended its energy policy choices and cited technical and logistical constraints affecting procurement and supply management.

The opposition called for a reassessment of the contractual framework with Addax Energy, alongside diversification of suppliers to reduce price volatility and improve supply security.

Outlook: 

The controversy is likely to keep fuel pricing and procurement governance under political scrutiny in Mauritania, particularly as dependence on a narrow set of external suppliers continues to expose the system to price volatility and recurring public debate. This may increase pressure on authorities to improve transparency in contracting and gradually broaden the supplier base to reduce concentration risks.

Structurally, import-dependent fuel systems constrained by storage and logistics capacity tend to lock in long-standing commercial arrangements, even when political discourse pushes for greater competition and reduced dependency.

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