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Mauritania:
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Other pages in this profile of Mauritania:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
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Background |
Independent from France in 1960, Mauritania annexed the southern third of the former Spanish Sahara (now Western Sahara) in 1976, but relinquished it after three years of raids by the Polisario guerrilla front seeking independence for the territory. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA seized power in a coup in 1984. Opposition parties were legalized and a new constitution approved in 1991. Two multiparty presidential elections since then were widely seen as flawed, but October 2001 legislative and municipal elections were generally free and open. A bloodless coup in August 2005 deposed President TAYA and ushered in a military council, which declared it would remain in power for up to two years while it created conditions for genuine democratic institutions and organized elections. Accordingly, parliamentary elections were held in late 2006-early 2007 and presidential elections in March 2007. The newly-elected legislature is expected to assume power following the inauguration of the new president in April 2007. The country continues to experience ethnic tensions among its black population and different Moor (Arab-Berber) communities. |
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Location |
Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara |
Geographic coordinates |
20 00 N, 12 00 W |
Map references |
Africa |
Area |
total: 1,030,700 sq km land: 1,030,400 sq km water: 300 sq km |
Area - comparative |
slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico |
Land boundaries |
total: 5,074 km border countries: Algeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km, Senegal 813 km, Western Sahara 1,561 km |
Coastline |
754 km |
Maritime claims |
territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin |
Climate |
desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty |
Terrain |
mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills |
Elevation extremes |
lowest point: Sebkhet Te-n-Dghamcha -5 m highest point: Kediet Ijill 915 m |
Natural resources |
iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, fish |
Land use |
arable land: 0.2% permanent crops: 0.01% other: 99.79% (2005) |
Irrigated land |
490 sq km (2002) |
Natural hazards |
hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and April; periodic droughts |
Environment - current issues |
overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion aggravated by drought are contributing to desertification; very limited natural fresh water resources away from the Senegal, which is the only perennial river; locust infestation |
Environment - international agreements |
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
Geography - note |
most of the population concentrated in the cities of Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the southern part of the country |
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