Inchiri

Inchiri serves as a transit zone between Mauritania's populated coast and the mining interior—a sparsely inhabited desert region where the iron ore railway passes on its 650-kilometer journey from Zouérat to Nouadhibou. The region's capital, Akjoujt, hosts copper mining operations that supplement the national mineral economy, though on a smaller scale than the iron ore extraction that dominates Mauritanian exports. Green hydrogen projects represent Inchiri's potential future: European and Arab investors see the empty desert expanses as ideal for renewable energy installations that could produce hydrogen for export. Australia's Aura Energy received final construction and operating licenses in July 2024 for the Tiris uranium mine, signaling extractive industry expansion. Yet for now, Inchiri remains transitional—a place defined more by what passes through than what stays. The sparse population consists primarily of pastoral communities following traditional livestock routes through the desert. Tourism connects to neighboring Adrar's attractions, with travelers crossing Inchiri en route to Chinguetti and the Richat Structure. By 2026, Inchiri's trajectory depends on whether green hydrogen investment materializes at scale, whether uranium mining begins production, and whether any development diversifies the region beyond being a corridor between coast and mines.