Tagant region

The Tagant region is found in the south-central part of Mauritania. It is named after the Tagant Plateau and has its capital in the town of Tidjikdja. Other important places in the region include Tichit as well as the towns of Rachid and Nbeika.

Tagant shares borders with several other regions of Mauritania. To the north lies Adrar, to the east is Hodh Ech Chargui, to the south are Hodh El Gharbi and Assaba, and to the west is Brakna. In the southern part of Tagant is the Aoukar basin, which used to give its name to a much larger area.

In 2013, the region was home to about 80,962 people. Most of them were women, making up just over half of the population. By 2008, many people were able to read and write, with a literacy rate of about 58% for those aged 15 and older.

Geography

Mauritania is mostly a desert, with only the western parts 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 moving sand hills that change shape over time. The land is usually about 460 meters (1,510 feet) above sea level.

In the north, near the Tropic of Cancer, there is only about 100 millimeters (3.9 inches) of rain each year. In the south, there is much more rain, about 660 millimeters (26 inches) each year. The days can get very hot, around 37.8°C (100°F), but nights can be very cold, near 0°C (32°F). Because of the dry land, many people used to move around, but some moved to cities during dry times in the 1970s and 1980s. Only a few people grow crops, and they live in the southern parts of the country.

Demographics

In 2013, the Tagant region had a population of 80,962 people. In 2011, the population was a bit higher at 88,736. Of the people, about 47% were females and 53% were males.

In 2008, many families in the region had children, with about 53% being couples with children. Only about 2% were couples without children. Most homes did not have easy access to things like phones, electricity, health centers, or clean water services.

Economy

The Tagant region has a mix of jobs, with some people working for the government and others in private businesses or households. In schools, not many students go on to secondary education, with only about 14 out of every 100 boys and girls enrolled. Health services also reach only part of the young children, with about 60 out of every 100 getting important vaccines. There are also a few places for tourists to stay in the region.

Departments

Tagant is divided into three departments: Moudjeria, Tichit, and Tidjikja. The area follows a system of local government that started from French ways. Originally, leaders called Governors managed each area, but after elections in 1994, power was shared more locally. Mauritania has 13 regions, and the smallest parts are called communes. These communes group together to form departments.

Local governments manage development and have their own budgets and staff. They hold elections every five years, but due to some political changes, the most recent elections were in 2023.