Mauritania

Mauritania, officially the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, is a country in Northwest Africa. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Western Sahara to the north and northwest, Algeria to the northeast, Mali to the east and southeast, and Senegal to the southwest. It is the 11th-largest country in Africa and the 28th-largest in the world. Much of its land is desert.

Most of its population lives in the south, where the climate is milder. Many people live in the capital city, Nouakchott, which is also the largest city. The country's name comes from an ancient region called Mauretania.

Mauritania has many natural resources but is still a poor country. Its main industries are agriculture and fishing. The country is part of the Arab world and a member of the Arab League. Arabic is the official language, and Islam is the state religion. Most people practice Sunni Islam.

Etymology

Mauritania gets its name from an ancient Berber kingdom. This kingdom was later called Mauretania when it joined the Roman world. The name "Mauretania" comes from the Mauri people, a group of Berbers. Later, the French called the area "Mauritanie occidentale," which became the country's official name.

History

Main article: History of Mauritania

Mauritania has a long and interesting history shaped by many different groups of people. Ancient tribes such as the Berber, Niger-Congo, and Bafour lived in the area. Over time, these groups moved and changed because the Sahara desert became drier.

Rock art in the Sahara Desert

The Umayyads, the first Arab Muslims, arrived in Mauritania during the seventh century. Later, in the 11th century, the Almoravid movement formed and created a large empire stretching from the Sahara to Europe.

In the late 19th century, France began to control Mauritania, making it part of French West Africa. French rule brought changes, and Mauritania became independent in 1960, led by President Moktar Ould Daddah.

Throughout the years, Mauritania has faced challenges, including issues over Western Sahara and changes in leadership. Despite these challenges, the country continues to grow and change.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Mauritania

Mauritania is a large country in western Africa. It covers 1,030,000 km². The land is mostly flat and dry, with wide plains and some small hills. Mauritania borders the North Atlantic Ocean to the west. It also shares borders with Senegal, Mali, Algeria, and Western Sahara. Much of the land is desert or semi-desert.

Topography of Mauritania

The land has features like slopes, sandstone plateaus, and tall peaks. The highest point is Kediet ej Jill, which is 915 meters tall. There are plants growing naturally, from tropical forest near the Senegal River to desert in the north. Mauritania has seven main types of natural areas, including the Sahelian Acacia savanna and the Atlantic coastal desert.

Wildlife

Main article: Wildlife of Mauritania

Mauritania’s animals are shaped by its location between the Palearctic and Afrotropic areas. The north, which is mostly desert, is part of the Palearctic. The south has many Afrotropical animals. The country is a key place for many migrating birds. Important wet areas include Banc d'Arguin National Park and Diawling National Park, which help protect coastal and river marine ecosystems.

Government and politics

Main articles: Politics of Mauritania and Foreign relations of Mauritania

Mauritania has one parliament called the National Assembly. It has 176 members who are elected for five years. The country is a semi-presidential republic. The president is chosen by voters for a five-year term and can serve again after that. The last election was in June 2024.

The Armed Forces of Mauritania include an army, navy, air force, gendarmerie, and a special guard for the president. Though small, the military has been in past conflicts like the Western Sahara War and the Mauritania–Senegal Border War. In 2024, the country was ranked 95th for peace.

Main article: Armed Forces of Mauritania

Main articles: Regions of Mauritania and Departments of Mauritania

Mauritania is split into 15 regions. Each region has a governor. These regions are also split into 44 smaller areas called departments. This system is based on the way France organizes its areas.

Region	Capital	#
Adrar	Atar	1
Assaba	Kiffa	2
Brakna	Aleg	3
Dakhlet Nouadhibou	Nouadhibou	4
Gorgol	Kaédi	5
Guidimaka	Sélibaby	6
Hodh Ech Chargui	Néma	7
Hodh El Gharbi	Ayoun el Atrous	8
Inchiri	Akjoujt	9
Nouakchott-Nord	Dar-Naim	10
Nouakchott-Ouest	Tevragh-Zeina	10
Nouakchott-Sud	Arafat	10
Tagant	Tidjikdja	11
Tiris Zemmour	Zouérat	12
Trarza	Rosso	13

Economy

Main articles: Economy of Mauritania, Transport in Mauritania, List of power stations in Mauritania, and Agriculture in Mauritania

Camel market in Nouakchott

Mauritania has many natural resources, including iron ore. This makes up almost half of what the country sells to other countries. Many people work in farming and raising animals. Some moved to cities because of dry weather in the 1970s and 1980s. Recently, new mines for gold and copper have opened. Oil was found far from the shore in 2001.

The country opened its first big port near Nouakchott in 1986. Even with its resources, Mauritania has money problems, like owing money to other countries and trouble growing its economy.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Mauritania

Saudi Mosque in Nouakchott

Mauritania has about 4.6 million people. Many live in the capital city, Nouakchott, by the Atlantic coast. The country has three main groups of people: the Bidhan, or white Moors; the Haratin, or black moors; and Sub-Saharans. Most people speak Hassaniya Arabic, a local way of speaking.

Mauritania is almost entirely Muslim, with most people following the Sunni branch of Islam. There are also small groups of other religions. Arabic is the official language, but French is often used in schools and government. The country has health challenges, with limited medical resources. Education is available, but many students go to school outside Mauritania.

Population
Year	Million
1950	0.7
2000	2.7
2021	4.6

Largest cities or towns in Mauritania National Agency for Statistics, Demographic and Economic Analysis (2023 census)
Rank	Name	Region	Pop.	Rank	Name	Region	Pop.
1	Nouakchott	Nouakchott	1,446,761	11	Adel Bagrou	Hodh Ech Chargui	37,048
2	Nouadhibou	Dakhlet Nouadhibou	173,525	12	Aïoun el Atrous	Hodh El Gharbi	36,517
3	Kiffa	Assaba	84,101	13	Hamed	Assaba	36,448
4	Vassala	Hodh Ech Chargui	79,508	14	Tintane	Hodh El Gharbi	35,995
5	Kaédi	Gorgol	62,790	15	Atar	Adrar	35,171
6	Zouérat	Tiris Zemmour	62,380	16	Néma	Hodh Ech Chargui	35,042
7	Rosso	Trarza	61,156	17	Gouraye	Guidimagha	35,021
8	Boghé	Brakna	50,205	18	Timbédra	Hodh Ech Chargui	34,244
9	Sélibaby	Guidimagha	44,966	19	Voum Legleita	Gorgol	33,314
10	Guerou	Assaba	40,315	20	Boutilimit	Trarza	32,347

Culture

Mauritania’s culture is a mix of Arab-Berber, African, and Islamic traditions. Islam is very important to the culture. People make beautiful crafts like metalwork, leatherwork, and textiles. Tuareg silversmiths make special jewelry.

Music in Mauritania uses special modes called al-’igga and instruments like the tidinit lute and ardin harp. Famous musicians like Dimi Mint Abba have shared Mauritanian music with the world. People also enjoy football, and sometimes Mauritanian teams surprise bigger teams in big tournaments. Mauritanian food includes dishes like thieboudienne and yassa. Green tea with mint is a symbol of welcome.