Mauritania - Autonomy, Tribalism, Unitary

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class="col-auto"> <div class="topic-left-rail md-article-drawer position-relative d-flex border-right-sm border-left-sm open"> <div class="drawer d-flex flex-column open"> <div class="left-rail-section-content"> <div class="topic-left-rail-header text-truncate bg-gray-50 position-relative text-right d-flex align-items-center"> <div class="tlr-title px-20 py-15 text-left"> <em class="material-icons text-gray-400 d-lg-none" data-icon="toc"></em> <a class="font-serif font-weight-bold text-black link-blue" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Mauritania">Mauritania</a> </div> <button aria-label="Close" class="js-sections-close-button btn-link btn-sm btn d-lg-none position-absolute top-0 p-10 right-0" > <em class="material-icons font-26" data-icon="close"></em> </button> </div> <div class="section-content pl-10 pr-20 pl-sm-50 pr-sm-60 pl-lg-5 pr-lg-10 pt-10 pt-lg-0 bg-gray-50 clear-catfish-ad"> <div class="toc mb-20"> <div class="font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-15 mb-15 mt-20"> Table of Contents </div> <ul class="list-unstyled my-0" data-level="h1"><li data-target="#ref1"><div class="pl-25"><a class="link-gray-900 w-100" href="/place/Mauritania">Introduction & Quick Facts</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref54998"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania#ref54998">Land</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref283191"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania#ref283191">Relief</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref283192"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania#ref283192">Drainage</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref283193"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania#ref283193">Soils</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref55000"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania#ref55000">Climate</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref55001"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Plant-and-animal-life">Plant and animal life</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref55003"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Plant-and-animal-life#ref55003">People</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref283194"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Plant-and-animal-life#ref283194">Ethnic groups</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref283195"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Plant-and-animal-life#ref283195">Languages</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref55005"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Religion">Religion</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref55002"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Religion#ref55002">Settlement patterns</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref283196"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Religion#ref283196">Demographic trends</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref55006"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Economy">Economy</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref55007"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Economy#ref55007">Agriculture and fishing</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref55008"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Economy#ref55008">Resources and power</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref283197"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Economy#ref283197">Manufacturing</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref55009"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Economy#ref55009">Finance</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref342242"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Trade">Trade</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref283198"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Trade#ref283198">Services</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref283199"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Trade#ref283199">Labour and taxation</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref55010"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Trade#ref55010">Transportation and telecommunications</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref55011"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Government-and-society">Government and society</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref283200"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Government-and-society#ref283200">Constitutional framework</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref283201"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Government-and-society#ref283201">Local government</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref283202"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Government-and-society#ref283202">Justice</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref283203"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Government-and-society#ref283203">Political process</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref283204"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Government-and-society#ref283204">Security</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref55014"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Government-and-society#ref55014">Health and welfare</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref55013"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Government-and-society#ref55013">Education</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref55015"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Government-and-society#ref55015">Cultural life</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref283205"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Government-and-society#ref283205">The arts</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref283206"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Government-and-society#ref283206">Cultural institutions</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref283207"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Government-and-society#ref283207">Sports and recreation</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref283208"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/Government-and-society#ref283208">Media and publishing</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref214465"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/History">History</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref283209"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/History#ref283209">Early history</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref283210"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/History#ref283210">European intervention</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref283211"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/History#ref283211">Struggle for postindependence stability</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref343434"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/History#ref343434">Presidency of Maaouya Ould Sidi Ahmed Taya (1984–2005)</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref343435"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Mauritania/History#ref343435">Coups of 2005 and 2008 and the return to stability</a></li></ul></li></ul></div></li></ul> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Mauritania/additional-info">References & Edit History</a> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="/facts/Mauritania">Facts & Stats</a> </div> <div class="tlr-media-slider pb-10 mb-30"> <a class="section-header link-gray-900 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mb-10 mx-10" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Mauritania/images-videos">Images</a> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 "> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex overflow-hidden text-nowrap ml-15"> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/64/5064-050-C2F7A773/Flag-Mauritania.jpg" data-href="/media/1/370109/61952" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/64/5064-004-FEF780F0/Flag-Mauritania.jpg" alt="Mauritania" height="50" /> </a> <a href="" data-href="/media/1/370109/151450" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <em 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Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). </div> <div class="type-menu"> <label for="feedback-type" class="label mb-10">Feedback Type</label> <select id="feedback-type" class="form-select mb-30" name="feedbackTypeId" required> <option value="" selected="selected">Select a type (Required)</option> <option value="1">Factual Correction</option> <option value="2">Spelling/Grammar Correction</option> <option value="3">Link Correction</option> <option value="4">Additional Information</option> <option value="5">Other</option> </select> </div> <label for="feedback" class="label mb-10">Your Feedback</label> <textarea id="feedback" class="form-control mb-30" name="feedback" maxlength="3000" rows="7" required></textarea> <button class="btn btn-blue" type="submit">Submit Feedback</button> </form> <div class="success-messaging d-none mt-30"> <div class="title">Thank you for your feedback</div> <p>Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="md-websites-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif pb-15 border-bottom font-weight-bold"> External Websites </div> <div class="pb-20"> <ul class="list-unstyled mt-20 lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13881985" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">BBC News - Mauritania country profile</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/africa/mr-intro.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">GlobalSecurity.org - Mauritania</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/mr.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">CRW Flags - Flag of Mauritania</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://globaledge.msu.edu/countries/mauritania" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Michigan State University - globalEDGE - Mauritania: Introduction</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://minorityrights.org/country/mauritania/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Minority Rights Group - Mauritania</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/mauritania/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Central Intelligence Agency - The World Factbook - Mauritania</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="md-websites-ebk-title">Britannica Websites</div> <div class="md-websites-ebk-subtitle">Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.</div> <ul class="list-unstyled bps-topic-web-sites lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/Mauritania/345741" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mauritania - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Mauritania/275741" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mauritania - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="toc-header-marker"></div> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 js-header-ai-ask-button d-none btn-sm btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 mr-0 mr-lg-10 ml-5 ml-sm-10 ml-lg-0 p-10"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> <div class="caption alternate-titles">Also known as: Al-Jumhūriyyah al-Islāmiyyah al-Mūrītāniyyah, Islamic Republic of Mauritania, Mūrītānīyā, Mauritanie, République Islamique de Mauritanie</div> <div class="md-byline module-spacing "> <div class="font-serif font-12"> <span class="written-by text-gray-700"> Written by </span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/contributor/Alfred-G-Gerteiny/3540" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">Alfred G. Gerteiny</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">Former Professor of Middle-Eastern and African Studies, University of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Author of <i>Mauritania.</i></div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> Alfred G. Gerteiny</span>, <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/contributor/Hubert-Jules-Deschamps/730" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">Hubert Jules Deschamps</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">Professor of Modern History of Black Africa, University of Paris, 1962–70. Colonial Administrator, Madagascar, 1926–36. Author of <i>History of Madagascar </i>and others.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> Hubert Jules Deschamps</span><span class="text-gray-700 mx-5">•</span><a class="see-all border-gray-700 gtm-byline" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Mauritania/additional-info#contributors">All</a> </div> <div class="font-serif font-12 text-gray-700"> <span class="qa-fact-checked-by">Fact-checked by</span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup font-12" href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link font-12 "> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2025-01-17T00:00:00CST" >Jan 17, 2025</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Mauritania/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 ai-ask-button btn border-2 module-spacing btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <div class="bg-gray-50 p-15 rounded module-spacing recent-news d-flex flex-column float-false"> <div> <h2 class="font-weight-bold font-14 m-0 d-inline"> News <span class="text-gray-600">•</span> </h2> <div class="recent-news-item first-recent-news-item d-inline"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="/news/370109/29d58ccf4ffdcde2860bbbce948c7ff0" rel="nofollow">More than 40 Pakistanis feared drowned in the capsizing of a migrant boat off African coast</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Jan. 17, 2025, 11:11 PM ET (AP) </span> </div> </div> <div class="rest-of-recent-news-items"> <button class="js-toggle-recent-news d-flex btn btn-unstyled font-14 pr-10 rounded-sm mt-10" aria-label="Toggle additional news items"> Show less <em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_less"></em> </button> </div> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><span class="marker h5"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref55011"> <section data-level="2" id="ref283200"><h2 class="h2">Constitutional framework</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The Mauritanian state had a presidential regime from 1960 until 1978, when a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/coup-detat" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">coup d’état</a> installed a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/military-government" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">military government</a>. A civilian government established in December 1980 was replaced the following April by a largely military administration. In 1991 a new constitution established a multiparty system and a new bicameral legislative structure. Additional coups took place in 2005 and 2008, each followed by elections. <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="Constitutional" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Constitutional" data-type="MW">Constitutional</a> <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="amendments" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/amendments" data-type="MW">amendments</a> to the 1991 constitution, put forth in 2006, included a new legislative body, an adjustment of the presidential term, and an age limit of 75 for presidential candidates. Following the 2008 coup, the military leadership announced that the 1991 constitution, augmented by a supplemental charter, would remain in place.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Mauritania is a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/republic-government" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">republic</a>. The president, elected by popular vote for a five-year term, is head of state and government and is assisted by the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/prime-minister" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">prime minister</a>, whom he appoints. Until 2017 Mauritania had a bicameral legislature made up of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Senate-Roman-history" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Senate</a>, the majority of whose members were elected by municipal leaders, and the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/National-Assembly-historical-French-parliament" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">National Assembly</a>, whose members are elected by popular vote for five-year terms. In 2017, though, the Senate was abolished by a popular referendum, leaving the National Assembly as the sole chamber of the legislature.</p><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span></section> <section data-level="2" id="ref283201"><h2 class="h2">Local government</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/nation-state" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">country</a> is divided into administrative regions, each of which is directed by a governor. The capital forms a separate district.</p><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span></section> <section data-level="2" id="ref283202"><h2 class="h2">Justice</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Islamic law (<a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/sharia" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Sharīʿah</a>) and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Maliki-school" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Mālikī</a> jurisprudence have been in force since February 1980. <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/qadi" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Qadis</a> (judges of the <span id="ref516812"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/sharia" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Sharīʿah</a>) in rural and settled <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="communities" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/communities" data-type="MW">communities</a> hear cases relating to marriage, divorce, and other personal status issues. The High Council for Fatwa and Administrative Appeals issues opinions on Islamic law and examines complaints from citizens on both civil and legal disputes.. The judiciary also includes lower courts, labour and military courts, the Court of State Security, a Constitutional Council, a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/High-Court-of-Justice-British-law" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">High Court of Justice</a>, and a Supreme Court, the highest court of appeal, which deals with administrative as well as judicial matters.</p><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span></section> <section data-level="2" id="ref283203"><h2 class="h2">Political process</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD5 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Suffrage in Mauritania is universal for Mauritanian citizens age 18 and older, all of whom are permitted to hold office. A 2006 decree <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="stipulated" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stipulated" data-type="MW">stipulated</a> that one-fifth of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/political-party" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">political party</a> positions be reserved for women; in addition, in September of that year two women were appointed as the country’s first female governors. Minorities also participate in the political process, though in general at a rate lower than their proportion of the wider population.</p><div class="module-spacing"> </div><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span></section> <section data-level="2" id="ref283204"><h2 class="h2">Security</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD6 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The Mauritanian defense forces consist of an army, a navy, an <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/air-force" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">air force</a>, and a paramilitary. The army is by far the largest <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="contingent" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contingent" data-type="MW">contingent</a>. Military service is determined by authorized conscription and is two years in duration.</p><span class="marker MOD6 mod-inline"></span></section> <section data-level="2" id="ref55014"><h2 class="h2">Health and welfare</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD7 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Modern health facilities are scarce in Mauritania. There is a major hospital in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Nouakchott" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Nouakchott</a> and a number of other regional health centres, including maternity clinics. Free medical services are available to the poor. Traditional remedies for illness—some of which are traced to classical Arabic texts, others based on the special skills of local bone-setters and herbalists—continue to serve an important role. Among other health problems found in tropical areas, tuberculosis, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/sexually-transmitted-disease" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">venereal disease</a>, and intestinal and eye maladies are present. <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="Data" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/Data" data-type="EB">Data</a> on the impact of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/AIDS" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">HIV/AIDS</a> in Mauritania is imperfect, but the incidence appears to be modest by comparison with other regions of the continent.</p><span class="marker MOD7 mod-inline"></span></section> <section data-level="2" id="ref55013"><h2 class="h2">Education</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD8 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Primary schooling, which lasts for six years, begins at age six and is officially compulsory. Secondary education, which begins at age 12, lasts for seven years—four years in a lower cycle of studies followed by three years in an upper cycle. About half of the adult population is literate, although literacy rates for men are substantially higher than those for women.</p><span class="marker MOD8 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD9 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">At the time of independence in 1960, the language of the educational system was French, and a majority of students came from the southern part of the country, mainly from the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Tukulor" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Tukulor</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Wolof" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Wolof</a> populations, where there was a tradition of French colonial schooling. As a result, Blacks in the country held most of the technical, professional, and <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="diplomatic" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/diplomatic" data-type="EB">diplomatic</a> posts in the early 1960s, and the majority Arabic-speaking Moors felt themselves to be disadvantaged. In the late 1980s, however, the military government accelerated a policy of Arabization that led to Arabic being taught in four-fifths of schools a decade later.</p><span class="marker MOD9 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD10 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The <span id="ref1047250"></span>University of Nouakchott (1981) has faculties of letters and human sciences and of law and economics. Other advanced education is provided by a research institute for mining and industry, a centre for Islamic studies, and a training facility for administrative personnel in Nouakchott.</p><span class="marker MOD10 mod-inline"></span></section></section><span class="marker h6"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref55015"><h2 class="h1">Cultural life</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD11 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The primary task of Mauritania’s successive governments has been to unify a <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="community" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/community" data-type="MW">community</a> of <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="diverse" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diverse" data-type="MW">diverse</a> ethnic groups that are hierarchical in social structure and very strongly <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="differentiated" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/differentiated" data-type="MW">differentiated</a>. The religion shared by all ethnic groups in the country has served as a centripetal force in creating a national <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="culture" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/culture" data-type="MW">culture</a>. Many of the local barriers to cooperation have been overcome, and traditional regional boundaries have been redrawn.</p><span class="marker MOD11 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD12 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Moorish women have long held central roles as household managers as well as critical cultural roles as the chief transmitters of Moorish culture, a tradition that has been translated into the modern economy with women playing an active part in government, business and education.</p><span class="marker MOD12 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD13 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Mauritania celebrates the feasts and holidays observed by other Muslim countries, such as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Eid-al-Fitr" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Eid al-Fitr</a>, which marks the end of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ramadan" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Ramadan</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Eid-al-Adha" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Eid al-Adha</a>, which marks the culmination of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/hajj" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">hajj</a>. In addition to these, Labour Day is observed on May 1, Africa Day on May 25, and Independence Day on November 28.</p><span class="marker MOD13 mod-inline"></span> <section data-level="2" id="ref283205"><h2 class="h2">The arts</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD14 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Moorish society is proud of its nomadic past and its Arab and Muslim heritage and boasts of its appellation “the land of a thousand poets” within the Arab world. The <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="composition" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/composition" data-type="MW">composition</a> and recitation of poetry, both in classical forms and in the Ḥassāniyyah <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="dialect" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dialect" data-type="MW">dialect</a>, have traditionally been among the distinguishing marks of high culture in Saharan desert society. Traditional music forms, which still flourish, owe much to <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Andalusia-region-Spain" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Andalusian</a> instrumentation as well as sub-Saharan African motifs and are today increasingly fused with <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/Middle-Eastern-music" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Middle Eastern music</a>, due in part to the <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="pervasive" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pervasive" data-type="MW">pervasive</a> influence of television and radio transmissions from the Arab world. Many of the traditional forms of music and instrumentation are being eclipsed by contemporary musicians. Local Mauritanian recording stars include Dimi Mint Abba, Ouleya Mint Amar Tichit, and Malouma Mint Moktar Ould El Meiddah, better known simply as Malouma, who was elected to the Mauritanian senate in 2007. Within the Mauritanian film world, Med Hondo is one of the best-known artists, but Sidney Sokhona and Abderrahmane Sissako are also well-known names. Despite the flood of new cultural influences that have modified traditional practice, goldsmithing remains a fine art, and the work by local silversmiths is highly prized by Mauritanians as well as visitors. The trade in <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="precious" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/precious" data-type="MW">precious</a> beads, which has <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="medieval" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/medieval" data-type="MW">medieval</a> origins, is also valued.</p><span class="marker MOD14 mod-inline"></span></section> <section data-level="2" id="ref283206"><h2 class="h2">Cultural institutions</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD15 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Nouakchott is the site of a national library, national archives, and a national cultural and social research centre, which houses a repository for the national collection of Arabic manuscripts. There are numerous private local libraries in many urban centres that specialize in Arabic works; among these are the family libraries of Arabic manuscripts in Boutilimit, Chingueṭṭi, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Kaedi" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Kaédi</a>. An open-access inventory of the contents of a number of these libraries is available on the Internet.</p><span class="marker MOD15 mod-inline"></span></section> <section data-level="2" id="ref283207"><h2 class="h2">Sports and recreation</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD16 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The Mauritanians’ game of choice is football (soccer), a sport that is well organized within the capital city of Nouakchott but less so in the country’s sparsely populated interior. As a result, the annual Mauritania Cup is almost always a contest among Nouakchott-area teams, many of them drawn from the military. A national stadium in the capital provides excellent facilities for visiting teams.</p><span class="marker MOD16 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD17 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Mauritania formed a national Olympic committee in 1962 and was recognized by the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/International-Olympic-Committee" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">International Olympic Committee</a> in 1979. It made its first Olympic appearance in 1984 at the Los Angeles Games.</p><span class="marker MOD17 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD18 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Movie theatres are found in the main urban centres, and social sporting clubs provide recreational opportunities in Nouakchott, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Nouadhibou" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Nouâdhibou</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Rosso" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Rosso</a>.</p><span class="marker MOD18 mod-inline"></span></section> <section data-level="2" id="ref283208"><h2 class="h2">Media and publishing</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD19 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Formerly owned or controlled by the government, the media are now relatively open, and a wide range of political and cultural publications are available in urban centres. Newspapers include <em>Chaab</em>, published in Arabic; the French-language <em>Horizons</em>; <em>Al-Mourabit</em> and <em>Le Quotidien de Nouakchott</em>, publications available on the Internet; <em>Journal Officiel</em>, a government journal published fortnightly; <em>Al-Qalam</em> (<em>Le Calame</em>), a weekly published in both Arabic and French; and others. Radio and television stations broadcast in Arabic, French, and a number of African languages.</p><span class="marker MOD19 mod-inline"></span><span class="md-signature"><a href="/contributor/Charles-Henri-Toupet/2983">Charles Henri Toupet</a></span> <span class="md-signature"><a href="/contributor/Alfred-G-Gerteiny/3540">Alfred G. Gerteiny</a></span> <span class="md-signature"><a href="/contributor/Charles-C-Stewart/4799">Charles C. 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