Travel Guide

Background Facts: Mauritania

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 some ethnic tensions among its black population and different Moor (Arab-Berber) communities.

Location	Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara.
Geographic Coordinates	20 00 N, 12 00 W
Geographical Area
Land	1,030,700 Sq Km.
Water	300 Sq Km.
Land Boundary	5,074 Km.
Border Countries
Algeria	463 Km.
Mali	2,327 Km.
Senegal	813 Km.
Western Sahara	1,561 Km.
Length of coastline	754 Km.
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%
Permanent Crops	0%
Other	100%
Irrigated Land	490 Sq Km.
Natural Hazards	Hot, dry, dust/sand-laden Sirocco wind blows primarily in March and April; periodic droughts.
Environmental 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.