Old Bir Moghrein Airport

Replacement. The old airport, a basic and likely unpaved airstrip, was replaced by the new, modern Bir Moghrein Airport (GMMH) located a few kilometers to the southwest. The new facility features a paved asphalt runway, modern infrastructure, and improved safety standards, making the old airstrip obsolete and redundant.

The site is abandoned and in a state of disrepair. Satellite imagery shows the faint outlines of the former runways, but they are heavily eroded, crossed by vehicle tracks, and are being slowly reclaimed by the desert. There are no buildings or infrastructure remaining, and the site is not used for any formal purpose. It lies dormant on the eastern edge of the town.

The airport's history is deeply tied to the military and administrative importance of Bir Moghrein, a remote Saharan outpost. Originally known as Fort Trinquet during the French colonial era, the airstrip was a vital logistical link for the French Foreign Legion. After Mauritania's independence, it was taken over by the Mauritanian military. Its strategic importance peaked during the Western Sahara War (1975-1991), where it served as a critical hub for supplying the garrison, transporting personnel, conducting medical evacuations, and supporting military air operations with transport aircraft like the C-47, Britten-Norman Defender, and CASA C-212. It was the primary lifeline to this isolated community for decades.

None. There are no known plans or logical prospects for reopening this old airport. All air traffic and investment are directed to the new, fully operational Bir Moghrein Airport (GMMH), which adequately serves the region's military and limited civilian needs.