Mauritania

الجمهورية الإسلامية الموريتانية al-Ǧumhūriyyah al-ʾIslāmiyyah al-Mūrītāniyyah République Islamique de Mauritanie Republik bu Lislaamu bu Gànnaar Islamic Republic of Mauritania
Motto: شرف إخاء عدل  (Arabic) "Honor, Fraternity, Justice"
Anthem: "National Anthem of Mauritania"
Capital (and largest city)		Nouakchott 18°09′N 15°58′W
Official languages		Arabic1
Demonym		Mauritanian
Government		Islamic republic2
-	President	Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz
-	Prime Minister	Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf
Independence
-	from France	28 November 1960
Area
-	Total	1,030,700 km² (29th) 397,954 sq mi
-	Water (%)	0.03
Population
-	2009 estimate	3,069,000[1] (135th)
-	1988 census	1,864,236[2]
-	Density	3.2/km² (221st) 8.2/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2010 estimate
-	Total	$6.655 billion[3]
-	Per capita	$2,093[3]
GDP (nominal)		2010 estimate
-	Total	$3.799 billion[3]
-	Per capita	$1,195[3]
Gini (2000)		39 (medium)
Currency		Ouguiya (MRO)
Time zone		(UTC+0)
-	Summer (DST)	not observed (UTC+0)
Internet TLD		.mr
Calling code		+222
1According to article 6 of Constitution: The national languages are Arabic, Pulaar, Soninke, and Wolof; the official language is Arabic. French is de facto co-official. 2Not recognized internationally. Deposed leaders President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi and Prime Minister Yahya Ould Ahmed El Waghef no longer have power as they were arrested by military forces.

The Islamic Republic of Mauritania, or Mauritania, is a
country in northwest Africa.
The coast faces the Atlantic Ocean on the west, and Senegal lies to the southwest
Mali to the east and southeast, Algeria to the northeast
 and the Moroccan-annexed territory of Western Sahara to the northwest.
The country's population was just over three million in 2005 and its capital
and largest city is Nouakchott, located on the Atlantic coast.
The country is named after the ancient Berber kingdom of Mauretania.

Mauritania is a land dominated by sand and barren soil located on the western
flank of the Sahara Desert. Mauritania sees itself as a link connecting
the northern, Arab nations of North Africa's Maghreb and the s
ub-Saharan Black African countries that make up the rest of the continent.

A long history of being one of the world's poorest countries has the potential
to change as Mauritania has recently discovered large
offshore reserves of oil and natural gas.
The goal of economic independence is now a feasible possibility.
The main obstacle to this economic independence is
the political and ethnic disunity that has plagued the country for centuries.

Geography

Richat Structure, Mauritania

Mauritania is generally flat
its territory of over one
million square kilometers (618,000 square miles)
forming vast, arid plains broken by occasional
ridges and cliff-like outcroppings.
A series of scarps face southwest
longitudinally bisecting these plains
in the center of the country.
The scarps also separate a series of
sandstone plateaus, the highest
of which is the Adrar Plateau, reaching an elevation of
500 meters (1,640 feet).
Spring-fed oases lie at the foot of some of the scarps. Isolated peaks, often rich in minerals
rise above the plateaus; the smaller peaks are called guelbs and the
larger ones kedias. The concentric Guelb er Richat (also known as the Richat
Structure and the "Eye of the Sahara") is a prominent circular feature in the
Sahara desert of west–central Mauritania is a
prominent feature of the north-central region. Kediet Ijill
near the city of Zouîrât, has an elevation of 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) and is the highest peak.

Richat Structure, located in the Sahara Desert of Mauritania, at Gres de
Chinguetti Plateau,
has been a focus of world attention due to its bull's eye shape.
The structure is 30 miles (50 kilometers) in diameter and has become
a landmark for crews of the space shuttle. Once thought to be
a meteorite impact structure, it is now considered to be a
symmetrical uplift (circular anticline) laid bare by erosion.

Though the interior contains mineral resources, the country's best-known
exports may be the weather disturbances that form in the summer and fall
move offshore into warm ocean water, form cyclonic winds
head west for the Americas as tropical storms with assigned names
 develop into hurricanes, and occasionally devastate islands and cities.

History

From the third to seventh centuries C.E., the migration of Berber tribes from
North Africa displaced the Bafours, the original inhabitants of present-day
Mauritania and the ancestors of the Soninke. The Bafours were primarily
agriculturalist, among the first Saharan people to abandon their historically
nomadic lifestyle. With the gradual desiccation of the Sahara, they headed south
Following them came a migration of not only central Saharans into
West Africa, but Berbers and Arabs as well.

By the eleventh century, the once small Bafour people had grown into a
very large and wealthy Soninke empire, later called the Ghana Empire,^[4] which
stretched from Mauritania into the neighboring states of Senegal and Mali.
Likewise, in the
north, the Arab-Berber population had achieved an impressive empire of its own
the territory of which stretched across the Mediterranean into
Spain and Portugal. Local nomadic Berber tribes, though influential
remained largely without power, having been conquered by the Soninke.

In 1076 Islamic warrior monks (Almoravid, or Al Murabitun) attacked and
conquered the ancient Ghana Empire. Over the next 500 years, Arabs overcame fierce r
esistance
from the local population (Berber and non-Berber alike) and came to dominate
Mauritania. The Mauritanian Thirty-Year War (1644-1674) was the unsuccessful
final effort to repel the Yemeni Maqil Arab invaders led by the Beni Hassan tribe
The descendants of the Yemeni Beni Hassan warriors became the upper s
tratum of Moorish society. Berbers retained influence by producing the
majority of the region's Marabouts—those who preserve and teach Islamic tradition.
Many of the Berber tribes claimed to be of Yemeni (and sometimes other Arab) origin.
There is little evidence to suggest this, though some studies do make a connection
between the two. Hassaniya, a mainly oral, Berber-influenced
Arabic dialect that derives its name from the Yemeni Beni Hassan tribe
became the dominant language among the largely nomadic population.

Aristocrat and servant castes developed, yielding
"white" Moors (the aristocracy)
kewri (the indigenous peoples who were never enslaved)
and "black" Moors or haratin (the formerly
enslaved). The Black Moors, who are Muslim and speak Arabic
are mainly the former slaves
of the White Moors, though some families were never enslaved.
Also known as the Haratine
the Black Moors have always been a disadvantaged
group because of their slave status and are generally looked
down on by both the White Moors and the Black African Kewri.

Map of Mauritania

French colonization at the beginning of the twentieth century brought legal
prohibitions against
slavery and an end to interclan warfare. During the colonial period, the
population remained nomadic
but many sedentary peoples, whose ancestors had been expelled
centuries earlier, began to trickle back into Mauritania. As the country
gained independence in 1960, the capital of Nouakchott was founded
at the site of a small colonial village, and 90 percent of
the population
was still nomadic. With independence, larger numbers of the indigenous
peoples (Haalpulaar, Soninke, and Wolof) entered Mauritania
moving into the area north of the Senegal River. Educated in the
French language and customs, many of these recent arrivals
became clerks, soldiers, and administrators in
the new state.

Moors reacted to this change by increasing pressure to
Arabize many aspects of Mauritanian life
such as law and language. A schism developed between
those who consider Mauritania
to be an Arab country (mainly Moors) and those who seek a
dominant role for the non-Moorish
peoples.

Mauritania, along with Morocco, illegally annexed the territory of Western Sahara in 1976
with Mauritania taking the lower one-third. After several military losses to t
he Polisario,^[5] Mauritania retreated in 1979 and their claims were taken by Morocco.
Mauritania's economic weakness has since made it a negligible player in the territorial
dispute.

The discord between these two conflicting visions of Mauritanian society was evident
during intercommunal violence that broke out in 1989 (the "1989 Events"), but has since subsided.
The tension between these Moor and the non-Moor visions remains a feature of the political
dialogue. A significant number from both groups, however, seek a more diverse,
pluralistic society.

Religion

Virtually all Mauritanians are SunniMuslims. They adhere to the Maliki rite,
one of the four Sunni
schools of law. Since independence in 1960, Mauritania has been an Islamic
republic.
The Constitutional Charter of 1985 declares Islam the state religion and
Sharia the law of the land.

Islam first spread southward into West Africa, including Mauritania,
with the movement of Muslim traders and craftsmen and later with
the founders of Islamic brotherhoods.^[6]

Chinguetti mosque in Mauritania

Although the brotherhoods (Sufism and tariqa) played a role in the early
expansion of Islam
it was not until the nineteenth century that these religious orders assumed
importance when they attempted to make religion a force for expanding identities
and loyalties beyond the limits
of kinship. The relative peace brought to the area by French administration
and the growing
resentment of colonial rule contributed to the rapid rise in the power and influence of
the brotherhoods. In recent decades, these orders have opposed
tribalism and have been an indispensable element in the growth of nationalist sentiment.

Qur'an collection in a library in Chinguetti

In the 1980s, two brotherhoods (tariqa), the Qadiriyyah and the Tijaniyyah,
accounted for
nearly all the brotherhood membership in Mauritania. The Qadiriyyah and Tijaniyyah were
essentially parallel "ways," differing primarily in their methods of reciting the litanies.
Their Islamic doctrines and their religious obligations were basically similar.
Two smaller
brotherhoods also existed—the Shadhiliyyah, centered in Boumdeït in
Tagant Region, and the Goudfiya, found in the regions of Tagant, Adrar
Hodh ech Chargui, and Hodh el Gharbi.

As Islam spread westward and southward in Africa, various elements of indigenous
religious systems became absorbed into and then altered strictly Islamic beliefs
.For example the Islamic tradition includes provisions for a variety of
spirits and supernatural beings, as long
as Allah is still recognized as the only God. Muslims in Mauritania believe in
various lesser spirits apparently transformed from pre-Islamic faiths into Islamic
spirits. Mauritanian Muslims
however, do not emphasize the Islamic concepts of the eternal soul and of reward or
punishment in an afterlife.

Religious liberty is an unknown concept in Mauritania. Christian proselytism is
forbidden and anyone who professes the Christian faith publicly can be
prosecuted under the law. No publications or radio transmissions of a
Christian character are allowed. The authorities have imprisoned
people for distributing Christian religious material to Muslim citizens.

The practice of slavery in Mauritania is a situation that is of grave concern
to the international community. Islam recognizes the practice of slavery
but it only permits treating as slaves
non-Islamic captives caught after holy wars, on condition that they are released as soon
as they convert to Islam. Mohamed Athie, Executive Director of the American
Anti-Slavery Group
says "Black Africans in Mauritania were converted to Islam more than
100 years ago, [and] ... the Koran forbids the enslavement of fellow Muslims
but in this
country race outranks religious doctrine ...
Though they are Muslims, these people are chattel: used for labor, sex and breeding."^[7]

Politics

After independence in 1960, President Moktar Ould Daddah, originally installed by the
French
formalized Mauritania into a one-party state in 1964 with
a new constitution, which set up an authoritarian presidential regime. Daddah's
own Parti du Peuple Mauritanien (PPM) became
the ruling organization. The president justified this decision on the grounds
that he considered Mauritania unready for Western-style multi-party democracy.
Under this one-party constitution
Daddah was reelected in uncontested elections in 1966, 1971 and 1976.
Daddah was ousted in a bloodless coup on July 10, 1978.

A committee of military officers governed Mauritania from July 1978 to April 1992. A
referendum approved the current constitution in July 1991. The Democratic and Social
Republican Party (PRDS), led by President Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya
has dominated M
auritanian politics since the country's first multi-party elections in
April 1992. President Taya
who won elections in 1992 and 1997, first became chief of state through a
December 12, 1984 bloodless coup which made him chairman of the
committee of military officers.

The government bureaucracy is composed of traditional ministries, special agencies
and parastatal companies. The Ministry of Interior spearheads a system of regional
governors and prefects modeled on the French system of local administration.
Under this system, Mauritania is divided into 13 regions (wilaya), including the capital
district, Nouakchott. Control is tightly concentrated in the executive branch of the
central government, but a series of national and municipal elections since
1992 have produced some limited decentralization.

Atar in Mauritania (Arabic: أطار) is a town in north western Mauritania, the capital of the Adrar region and the main settlement on the Adra

Politics in Mauritania have always been heavily influenced by personalities,
with any leader's ability to exercise political power dependent upon control over
resources
 perceived ability or integrity; and tribal, ethnic, family, and personal considerations.
Conflict between white Moor, black Moor, and non-Moor ethnic groups, centering
on language, land tenure, and other issues, continues to be the dominant challenge
to national unity.

Political parties, illegal during the military period, were legalized again in 1991. B
y April 1992, as civilian rule returned, 16 major political parties had been recognized
12 major parties were active in 2004. Most opposition parties boycotted the first
legislative election in 1992, and for nearly a decade the parliament has been dominated
by the PRDS. The opposition participated in municipal elections in 1994 and subsequent
senatorial elections, most recently in 2004, gaining representation at the local level
as well as three seats in the Senate.

Mauritania's third presidential election since adopting the democratic
process in 1992
took place on November 7, 2003. Six candidates, including Mauritania's first female and first
Haratine (former slave family) candidates
represented a wide variety of political goals and backgrounds
Incumbent President Maaouya Sid'Ahmed Taya won reelection with 67 p
ercent of the popular vote while Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla finished second.

2005 military coup

In August 2005, a group identifying itself as the
Military Council for Justice and Democracy s
eized control of key points in Nouakchott while President Taya was abroad at the funeral
of King Fahd in Saudi Arabia. The group of officers leading the coup released the statement
The national armed forces and security forces have unanimously decided to put a
definitive end to the oppressive activities of the defunct authority, which our people
have suffered from during the past years.^[8]

The Military Council later issued another statement naming Colonel Ely Ould Mohamed
Vall as president. Vall was himself once regarded as a firm ally of Taya, even aiding him in
the original coup that brought him to power and serving as his security chief afterwards.
This high-level betrayal of the former president suggests broad discontent within the
branches of local government, which is further supported by the seemingly complete
lack of bloodshed.

This was the fourth coup since 2003 and apparently took root when President Taya
banned all religious speeches and teachings in the country's mosques. The coup was
condemned by most world authorities, but local political parties expressed hope
that the Military Council would remain true to its word, and end its leadership after
two years—hopefully leading to a democratic government.

On June 25, 2006, a national referendum took place in which Mauritanians approved
several reforms by 97 percent, with at least 76 percent of eligible voters casting their votes
These reforms included limiting presidential terms to two five-year terms and preventing
the president from holding on to his post if older than 75. The presidential term limit is very
unusual for the region and the age limit on a president is a first. The referendum
was followed by parliamentary and local elections in November and December
2006 and presidential elections in 2007.

The 2007 election effected the final transfer from military
to civilian rule following the military coup in 2005. This was the first
time that the president had been selected in a multi-candidate election in
the country's post-independe
nce history. The election was won in a second round of voting by Sidi
Ould Cheikh Abdallahi, with Ahmed Ould Daddah a close second.

2008 military coup

On August 6, 2008, a day after 48 lawmakers from the ruling party resigned in protest of
President Abdallahi's policies, the head of the Presidential Guards took over the president's
palace in Nouakchott. The army surrounded key government facilities, including the
state television building, and the President, Prime Minister Yahya Ould Ahmed Waghef
and Minister of Internal Affairs Mohamed Ould R'zeizim were arrested.

The coup was organized by General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, former chief of staff of the
Mauritanian army and head of the Presidential Guard, whom the president had just dismissed
Others involved in the coup included General Muhammad Ould Al-Ghazwani, General Philippe
Swikri, and Brigadier General (Aqid) Ahmad Ould Bakri, all of whom had been dismissed in
a presidential decree shortly beforehand. The coup was apparently bloodless and the
President, Prime Minister, and Interior Minister were arrested and held under
house arrest.

Abdallahi formally resigned in the spring of 2009, and presidential elections were
held on July 19, 2009. General Aziz resigned from the military to run for president
winning the election with a 52 percent majority.

Economy

Traces of the Dakar Rally in Mauritania

Mauritania and Madagascar are the only two countries in the world not to use
decimal-based currency. The basic unit of currency, the ouguiya, is comprised
of five khoums.

The Sahara region is developing a modern economy centered on the exploitation
of copper and iron-ore resources. It receives technical assistance and capital
investment from abroad.

The Chinguetti oil reserves, discovered in 2001, are estimated to contain about
120 million barrels of oil. At the end of December 2005, authorities estimated that in
2006 the
oil profits would be 47 billion ouguiyas (about U.S. $180 million) and represent
a quarter o
f the state budget. This discovery puts Mauritania more substantially on the world
economic map. Before the discovery, fishing and agriculture made up almost
one-third of the gross national product (GNP), mining one-fourth, and public
administration about 15 percent.

Oil production commenced at the Chinguetti Oil Field on February 24, 2006.
The target production rate of 75,000 BOPD was achieved within two weeks
and within three weeks cumulative production achieved one million barrels.
The first cargo loading of approximately one million barrels of crude oil was
completed on March 22 and was destined for China, representing that
country's first oil import from Africa.

The Sahel region, on the other hand, still maintains the traditional subsistence
economy of raising livestock, crafts, trading, and agriculture. More than 75 percent of the
Mauritanian population live by traditional economic practices, such as raising livestock.

The Mauritanian government has been trying to
increase irrigation to the Senegal River valley to stimulate
the production of rice, which they are currently importing in large quantities.

Notes

1. ↑ Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division (2009)
2. World Population Prospects, Table A.1. Retrieved November 27, 2011.
3. ↑Mauritania : Location, Map, Area, Capital, Population, Religion, Language
4. – Country Information. Retrieved November 27, 2011.
5. ↑ ^3.03.13.23.3Mauritania. International Monetary Fund. Retrieved November
6. 27, 2011.
7. ↑ Richard Hooker, Civilizations in Africa: Ghana. June 6, 1999. Retrieved
8. February 26, 2007.
9. ↑ Tore Kjeilen, Polisario. Encyclopedia of the Orient. Retrieved February 26, 2007.
10. ↑Mauritania - Brotherhoods and Saints. Retrieved February 26, 2007.
11. ↑ Samuel Cotton, "Arab Masters - Black Slaves." Reproduced on raceandhistory.com
12. January 22, 2001. Retrieved February 26, 2007.
13. ↑Mauritania officers 'seize power.'" BBC News. August 4, 2005. Retrieved
14. February 26, 2007.

References

• Foster, Noel. Mauritania: The Struggle for Democracy. Lynne Rienner
• Publishers, 2010. ISBN 978-1935049302
• Hudson, Peter. Travels in Mauritania. HarperCollins Publishers, 1991
• ISBN 978-0006543589
• Pazzanita, Anthony G. Historical Dictionary of Mauritania.
• Scarecrow Press, 2008. ISBN 978-0810855960

External links

All links retrieved May 1, 2012.

• Républic Islamic de Mauritanie
• Mauritania - AllAfrica.com
• Mauritania - www.al-bab.com
• Mauritania Profile - BBC News Africa
• Mauritania - CIA World Factbook
• Mauritania - Library of Congress Country Study -
• Mauritania - Stanford University: Africa South of the Sahara
• Present day slavery in Mauritania - RaceandHistory.com