Hodh Ech Chargui region

Hodh Ech Chargui (Arabic: ولاية الحوض الشرقي, romanized: Wilāyat al-Ḥawḍ al-Sharqī, lit. 'Eastern Basin Region') is a large region in eastern Mauritania. It covers an area of 182,700 km² and has its capital in the town of Néma. The biggest town is Fassala, located in the Bassiknou Department at the far southeast of the country.

The region shares borders with other Mauritanian regions like Adrar, Tagant, and Hodh El Gharbi to the west, and with the country of Mali to the east and south. In the western part of Hodh Ech Chargui lies the Aoukar basin, which used to give its name to a much larger area.

In 2013, the population of Hodh Ech Chargui was 430,668 people. The region’s leaders are chosen by voting, with elections happening every five years. The most recent elections took place in 2023.

Geography

Mauritania is mostly desert, with only its western areas near the Atlantic Ocean having some plants. There are a few places with water in the desert called oases. Because it is a desert, there are big sand hills that move around. The land is usually about 460 meters (1,510 feet) above sea level. The north gets very little rain, about 100 millimeters (3.9 inches) a year, while the south gets more, around 660 millimeters (26 inches). Temperatures are often very hot, around 37.8°C (100°F), but can get very cold at night in winter, even down to 0°C (32°F).

Because of the harsh desert environment, many people used to move around a lot. In the 1970s and 1980s, when there was very little rain, many moved to cities. Only a few people farm, and they live in the southern parts of the country. Studies show that changes in the Sahara Desert have led to less rain since the 1960s, when the area used to get about 250 millimeters (9.8 inches) of rain each year.

In early September 2020, heavy rains of over 100 millimeters fell near the border with Mali, causing a lot of damage, especially in the Bassiknou area.

Demographics

The Hodh Ech Chargui region had a population of 430,668 in 2013, up from 363,071 in 2011. About half of the people were female, and the other half were male.

In 2008, most homes did not have phones, electricity, health centers, or clean water services nearby. Most families lived in homes with other families or relatives nearby.

Economy, health and education

The Hodh Ech Chargui region has many people working in different jobs. Some work for the government, while others work in private homes or businesses.

In terms of health, many children in the region receive important vaccines to stay healthy. Schools also have some students, though not very many go to secondary school.

Local Administration

The local administration in Hodh Ech Chargui follows a system that started from French rules. There used to be leaders called Governors for each area, but after elections in 1994, power was shared more locally. Mauritania is split into 13 big areas called wilayas, with the smallest parts being communes. There are 216 communes in total, with 53 in cities and 163 in the countryside.

Hodh Ech Chargui has seven departments. Each department has its own size and number of people, based on information from the 2013 Census.