Its certainly a consideration, and from this end of the world we...

Its certainly a consideration, and from this end of the world we really have no trade relations with a lot of these African countries, whereas the Middle East and China are more prepared to fuel Mauritania's debt/expansion. Some of the countries that Mauritania are indebted to according to IMF are France, Spain, China, Kuwait and the Saudis. I think Tiris will be a no brainer, but you wont see Aussie backers pouring into the project of course. It will be money out of the UK and/or China I suspect. 

Not that this is the final word on the matter but Mauritania really needs a mining industry (quote below from IMF), and you would hope they would be trying to attract more mining dollars into the country. The mining framework they embarked on is an important step

Mauritania’s risk of debt distress remains high owing to a substantial increase in external debt over the past three years to finance infrastructure and external deficits, a contraction in nominal GDP due to the 2014–15 terms-of-trade shock, and the depreciation of the exchange rate in 2016. However, the outlook for external debt sustainability has improved compared to the 2017 Article IV DSA and the debt profile shows earlier prospects of an exit from high risk of debt distress. The improvement reflects a stronger than-expected-fiscal adjustment in 2017 and during the medium term, an expansion in gold mining capacity financed by foreign direct investment, higher gold and iron ore prices, an improved current account, and lower projected debt disbursements owing to a more prioritized and restrained public investment program. At the same time, projected export and growth performance, as well as fiscal and debt trajectories, are vulnerable to significant downside risks stemming from lower global commodity prices, weather-related events, regional security developments, and possible reform implementation delays.

It's not as though Tiris is breaking virgin territory with respect to mining, and the geographic location of the tenement makes it quite favourable. 

But labour force, water tables and transportation all need some robust thought - hopefully as part of the DFS.