The Country & People of Mauritania

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History
Settled by Berbers in the 1st millennium AD, the region was the center of the ancient empire of Ghana (700–1200) and later became part of the empire of Mali (14th–15th cent.). By this time the Sahara had encroached on much of Mauritania, limiting agriculture and reducing the population.

In the 1440s Portuguese navigators established a fishing base, and from the 17th cent. European traders dealt in gum arabic along the southern coast. France gained control of S Mauritania in the mid-19th cent., declared a protectorate over the region in 1903, and made it a separate colony in French West Africa in 1920; however, little was done to develop the economy.

Nationalist political activity began after World War II, and Mauritania gained full independence in 1960.

A Muslim state was created in 1961 under Makhtar Ould Daddah as president. His rule was troubled by ethnic tensions between the Fulani and the Arab-Berber group, by economic problems aggravated by the severe drought in the Sahel, and by worker-student protests.

The military deposed Ould Daddah in 1978, and military governments subsequently ruled the country.

A 1975 agreement with Spain and Morocco giving Mauritania control over the southern third of the Spanish (Western) Sahara ignited a conflict in the former colony. The Polisario Front, a proindependence guerrilla group backed by Algeria, waged war against Mauritanian troops until 1979, when Mauritania renounced its claims to the area and signed a peace treaty with the front. Slavery was only officially abolished in 1980, and racial unrest erupted in the late 1970s and persisted into the 1990s, aggravated by government repression of black Mauritanians.

In 1984 Col. Maouiya Ould Sidi Ahmed Taya became president after a coup.

A new constitution approved in 1991 called for an elected president and national assembly, and the government legalized political parties.

Taya won election as president in 1992 and 1997, in balloting widely considered to be unfair.

In 1993 the United States ended development aid to Mauritania in protest against the country’s oppression of its black citizens and its support of Iraq during the Persian Gulf War; the government subsequently moved toward a pro-Western position.

Taya survived a coup attempt in June, 2003. In the Nov., 2003, presidential elections he received 66.7% of the vote; his nearest challenger, former president Heydalla, almost 19%. Despite new voting safeguards designed to prevent vote-rigging, there were again accusations of fraud. Heydalla was arrested after the election on charges of plotting a coup, which he denied; he received a suspended five-year sentence in December, and as a result of the sentence he lost his political and civil rights for five years.

In Aug. and Sept., 2004, Mauritanian officials said they had foiled two more coup plots. At the same time, locusts ravaged a large portion of the nation’s agricultural land, leading to concerns of a possible food crisis.

In Aug., 2005, while President Taya was abroad, the long-time national security chief, Col. Ely Ould Mohamed Vall led a coup that replaced Taya with a 17-member military council headed by Vall. The coup was quickly denounced by the African Union, United States, and others, but after the council promised to hold democratic legislative elections within two years the objections ended. Mauritanians generally greeted the Taya’s overthrow with celebration, and opposition groups with qualified approval.

In 2006 voters approved a new constitution limiting a president to two five-year terms in office. In the legislative elections (Nov.-Dec., 2006) a coalition of former opposition parties won the largest bloc of seats, followed by independents, but no group won a majority.

Senatorial elections were held in Jan., 2007, and in March Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi, a former government minister who ran as an independent but was supported by former government parties and was regarded as the military's candidate, was elected president after a runoff.

In 2008, however, increasing food prices and concerns over the government's overtures to Islamists led to government instability beginning in May and tensions between the president and parliament. In August, after the president dismissed several military and security leaders, one of them, Gen. Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, overthrew the president and replaced the presidency with a military-dominated council; a new cabinet was appointed in September. Mauritania saw an increase in Islamic militant attacks in the months following the coup, and fighting between Islamist and government forces continued sporadically into 2010, at times spilling across the border into Mali.

Aziz resigned from the military and the government in Apr., 2009, in order to run for president; Senate President Ba Mamadou Mbare became interim head of state. In June, 2009, a settlement negotiated as a prelude to new elections led to the formation of a power-sharing government that included military- and opposition-appointed members; as part of the agreement Abdallahi appointed the interim government and then officially resigned as president. The presidential election in July resulted in a victory for Aziz, with more than 52% of the vote, but the main opposition candidates rejected the results. The president was injured in a shooting in Oct., 2012, reportedly accidentally, though some reports suggested it might have been an assassination attempt.

The president's party, Union for the Republic, won a majority of the seats in the legislature in the Nov.–Dec., 2013, elections, with its allies winning additional seats, but all but one of the parties in the 11-party opposition alliance boycotted the vote. The opposition also boycotted the June, 2014, presidential election, in which Aziz was easily reelected.

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About Mauritania

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ArabNet Overview, history, geography, business, culture, government, transport, tour guide, links

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Atlapedia Geography, climate, people, demography, religion, education, modern history, currency, other information....

BBC Country Profile Key facts, figures and dates

Britannica.Com Country info, land, people, economy, society, government, history, culture, maps, statistics, links....

CIA World Factbook Map, geography, people, government, economy, communications, transportation, military, issues

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Encarta OnLine Info, land & resources, population, economy, government, history, other related items, links....

Encyclopaedia of the Orient Geography, politics, economy, health, education, religion, people, history, anthem, cities....

Expedia Almanac, fast facts, communications, on business, health & safety, transportation, traveler's directory

Info Please General info, map, geography, government, history, land & people....

Nation By Nation Info, government, human rights, news, geography, history, people, links....

US Library of Congress Everything you ever wanted to know about Mauritania....

World66 General info, cities, history, people, economy, getting around, getting there, links....

Cities, Towns, Municipalities & Places

Mairie du Ksar Mayor, action plan, services, photos....

World Heritage Cities Ancient ksour of Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt and Oualata - Each ksar is encircled by walls that are fairly well-preserved

Flag, Maps, Useful Information....

Cellular News Cellular coverage map, systems, frequencies....

Ethnologue Languages

Flag Description, meaning, history, interesting facts

Flag Explanation, historical, military & political flags, subdivisions, national emblem....

World Atlas A brief description, fast facts, flag, landforms, maps, traveller info, weather

World Clock Local time, sunrise, sunset, GMT offset, daylight saving....

World Paper Money Paper currency since 1974

Business and Economy

Bilateral Relations with Japan Diplomatic, investment, economic cooperation, residents....

Mauritania and the IMF Position in the fund, reports....

MBendi Business information, news, industries, events

Ports Focus Ports, harbours, marinas....

US Department of Energy Analysis, information, oil, natural gas, coal, electricity....

US Department of State Country commercial guide 2001 (pdf)

World Bank Overview, news & events, data & statistics, publications & reports, development topics, projects & programs, Public Information Center

World Trade Organization - WTO Provides trade statistics, goods schedules, services schedules and MFN exemptions, trade policy reviews, dispute cases, and notifications

Banks

Banque Al-Wafa Mauritanienne Islamique

Banque Mauritanienne pour le Commerce International A modern financial institution, performing and resolutely turned towards the future

Directories, Job Opportunities

Annuaires Afrique - Mauritanie Telephonique Local et Yellow Pages

Investment & Promotion....

Art, Culture & Sport

Art, Literature, Photography, Cinema....

Internet Movie Database Movie & TV reports

Guide to Theatres Activity, companies, places, events, festivals....

Music, Song & Dance....

Dimi Mint Abba Traditional Music

Cultural, Scientific, Environmental, Sporting Entities & Info

Animal Info Threatened species, environmental and social data

AquaStat Information on quantity and quality of freshwater and its availability

Education

The American International School of Nouakchott To provide an education program similar to that of the US public schools

University of Nouakchott An academic institution involved in education, training and research

Institutions & Organizations

Association Culturelle Des Etudiants Mauritaniens

Kultureller Mauretanischer Verein Deutchland Association culturelle des Etudiants Mauritaniens en Allemagne

Research, Resources & Projects

History, Human Right & Politics

All Referer Ancient history....

World Statesmen Flags, chronology, rulers, governors, ministers, commissioners....

Human Rights, Politics & Political Parties....

Amnesty International News, reports, urgent action. Latest annual report....

Coalition Against Slavery in Mauritania and Sudan - CASMAS A human rights abolitionist movement

Mauritanian Human Rights Watch Al-Marsad - Defending victims of oppression and prisoners of conscience

US Department of State Country reports on human rights practices

La Force du Changement

Rassemblement des Forces Democratiques Opposition party - Unity, democracy, social Justice

Related Sites, Articles....

Centre Mauritanien d'Analyse de Politiques

Constitution Background, history & news

Media

Al-Raya Daily newspaper

OnLine News, Newsletters, News Agencies....

AllAfrica.Com News plus, news wire....

l’Agence Mauritanienne d’Information (AMI)

Sahara Media Updated daily

Washington Post News & references

Radio, TV, Internet....

Articles, Reports, Cartoons....

Government & Organizations....

Chiefs of State and Cabinet Members

Political Leaders Dates and figures of the leadership since 1961 (with pictures)

Direction of Hydraulics and the Cleansing (DHA) Information you would need about the situation and the evolution of the drinkable water supply in Mauritania

Mauritania Official site of the Government of Islamic Republic of Mauritania

Ministry of Mines and Industry History and economics, organisation and departments, products

Embassy of Mauritania in Ottawa, Canada Discover Mauritania, economy, tourism, official services

Embassy of Mauritania in Washington, USA Visa services, The Country, Presidency, Consular, Economy, Travel....

Permanent Mission of Mauritania to the United Nations New York - Country facts, statements, basic documents

Corporations, Organizations, Public Hospitals and Industrial Entities

Cement of Mauritania Complete cement plant....

Societe Nationale des Industries et des Mines (SNIM) A modern company in the heart of the Sahara desert

MauriPost

MauriTel

Centers, Institutions, Societies....

Agir en Faveur de l'Environnement (AFE)

L’Association des Jeunes Ressortissants de M’Bagne

L'association SOS-Abbere To initiate and implement projects, economic and social development....

Foreign Entities

French Embassy

US Embassy Embassy news, U.S. citizen services, Visas to the U.S, U.S. policy & Iissues, resources

Program of the United Nations for Development (UNDP) Reinforcement in term of plea and mobilization of the resources

United Nations in Mauritania Current events, coordination, education of the girls, documentation and information center....

World Food Programme Fight against global hunger....

World Health Organization Tobacco & health, socio-economic situation

Travel & Tourism

Mauritania Airways

Travel, Tours, Guides.... More country info

Chinguitty Voyages Tour Operator for organizing trips and vacations in Mauritania

Adventures of Mauritania Getting there & costs, safety & health, visa, climate, cities, holidays....

Africa Guide Introduction, visitor info, accommodation, tours....

Lonely Planet Travel information, maps, photos, background historical and cultural information

Travel Guide General & travel info, money, duty free, health, accommodation, visas....

World Travel Guide Travel information, regions & places....

Hotels, Resorts, Inns, Hostels....

Health & Travel Tips

Foreign & Commonwealth Office Travel information, country advise, latest travel updates....

Travel Document Systems Passports, visas, travel documents

US Consular Information Warning, visa, security, health, crime/drug penalties....

Weather....

Tide Calendar Tide times, sunset, sunrise and global position

Weather Underground Temperature, humidity, pressure and conditions by city

Yahoo Weather By city. Forcast, sunrise, sunset, humidity, wind, dewpoint....

Gateways to Mauritania