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Rosso is the major city of south-western Mauritania and capital of Trarza Region region. It is situated on the Senegal River at the head of the river zone allowing year-round navigation.
The town is 204 km south of the capital Nouakchott.
Under French colonial rule Senegal and Mauritania were administered as a single entity. When Independence came, the new frontier was drawn along the Senegal River, splitting the small town of Rosso in two. This article refers to Mauritanian Rosso, on the northern bank of the river.
Originally a staging-post for the gum arabic trade, Rosso has grown rapidly since independence.
In 1986, the town was elevated to the status of urban commune. The commune's population was 50,560 in 2013, with 33,518 living in the city of Rosso itself. Having grown from a mere 2,300 in 1960, it has now overtaken Kaédi to become the 3rd largest city in the country.
From 1990 to 1992 the border crossing was closed, due to the Mauritania–Senegal Border War, and there have been repeated movements of refugees in both directions through the town.
In 2004 however up to 80% of crops were lost as a result of the infestation of Locust which affected the whole of the western Sahel. This was followed by a severe drought. It was a bitter irony then that in August 2005, some 10,000 people were displaced by flooding.
A technology institute - ISET - was opened in 2009, offering courses in agriculture.
Rosso has been twinned with Moissy-Cramayel since 1986.
From August 2007 through May 2009, Michael Auerbach - Regional Coordinator for the Peace Corps - resided in Rosso as he evaluated the efficacy of existing gender equality movements in the region. He was succeeded by Brandon Forester, the final Regional Coordinator for the United States Peace Corps Program until the total closure of the program in 2010.
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