Background and why it matters
Mauritania is an Islamic republic in the Maghreb region of West Africa, with a long Atlantic coastline to the west and desert stretching across most of its interior. It is bordered by Western Sahara, Algeria, Mali, and Senegal. Most of the population lives in the milder south, and a large share is clustered in the capital, Nouakchott, on the coast.
Berbers occupied the area by early in the first millennium, and Arab tribes arrived in the late seventh century, bringing Islam, Arab culture, and the Arabic language. France later colonized Mauritania as part of French West Africa, and the country gained independence in 1960. Its post-independence history has been marked by repeated coups and stretches of military rule. A 2008 coup brought General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz to power, and he won elections in 2009 and 2014. His successor, General Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, took office after the 2019 elections in what was widely seen as the country’s first peaceful transfer of power since independence.
Mauritania is culturally and politically tied to the Arab world as a member of the Arab League, and Arabic is the official language, while Pulaar, Soninke, and Wolof are recognized national languages. Society is multiethnic, with the state religion Islam practiced by nearly all inhabitants. The economy depends heavily on agriculture and fishing, and despite considerable natural resources the country remains poor. Human rights problems persist, including a
