Where is Mauritania located on the world map. Detailed map of Mauritania in Russian online. Satellite map of Mauritania with cities and resorts. Mauritania on the world map is a state in the northwestern region of Africa with its capital in the city of Nouakchott. The official languages of the country are French, Arabic and some other dialects and dialects of the provincial population.
In the west, Mauritania is washed by the waters Atlantic Ocean. Most of the territory (about 60%) is occupied by rocky lands and deserts. Mountains in Mauritania are not observed, plains and hilly areas prevail.
Map of Mauritania in Russian:
Mauritania - Wikipedia:
Population of Mauritania- 4 301 018 people (2016)
Capital of Mauritania- Nouakchott
Mauritania phone code - 222
Used language in Mauritania- Arabic
The climate of Mauritania- desert tropical. In winter, average temperatures are from + 17 ... + 20, in summer it is much hotter - up to + 40 ... + 43 C.
Despite the fact that capital Nouakchott- one of the youngest capitals in the world, the city has attractions and interesting places that will tell about the culture and history of this African state. One of them is the National Museum, located in the center of Nouakchott, as well as the Carpet Center, which has a permanent exhibition of carpet handicrafts.
To get acquainted with the culture and way of life of the Berber peoples, you should go to the ghost town of Tishit, which is located in the heart of the desert. The population of the city is not numerous - only 500 people live in it permanently, the rest of the inhabitants lead a nomadic lifestyle for 10 months a year.
Among natural attractions of particular interest is the national Banc d'Arguin Park. It is unique in that it is on its territory that the migratory flows of many birds from Africa, Asia and European territories intersect.
Thanks to Mauritania has access to the Atlantic Ocean, there are a lot of good sandy beaches on the territory of the country, where the infrastructure of tourism and recreation is developing quite quickly. However, tourism in Mauritania is not as developed as in many other African countries.
What to see in Mauritania:
Ban d'Arguin National Park, Dowling National Park, Ancient Imperial Capital of Ghana Cumbi Saleh, Mauritanian Capital Nouakchott, Saudi Mosque, French Embassy Cultural District, Port Nouakchott, National Museum, Chinguetti, Chinguetti Cathedral Mosque, Mauritania Railway, Tichit, Chemama, Mount Kediet Ijil, El-Juf, Atar, Ben-Amera, Tergit, Adrar Plateau.
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Arrived yesterday in Senegal. Before that, I traveled around Mauritania for about a week. Here's what I can say about her.
In short - a full-fledged Arab country with an African way of life.
The country is small, almost all of it is in the desert, there is practically nothing to see. 
Rarely where dunes are found. Basically, the desert is not particularly remarkable. 
In the northeast, in the Zuerat region, there are even some mountains where ore is mined. But still, a non-tourist country. 
The main attraction (I think that Bolashenko will 100% support me here) is the longest train in the world! Going to the aforementioned Zuerat. Rare African Railway built after independence. The train is enchanting, of course, I will write a detailed post about it. 
Fishing port in the second city of the country and concurrently - a major port of Nouadhibou. An extremely colorful place. The second most interesting in the country. 
Mauritania is a very poor and backward country. In most aspects, almost typical Africa. 
The country is very dirty. Rubbish is scattered all over the place. There are very few urns, nobody needs them here. Often right in the midst of this, people are selling something. 
An ordinary city street in Nouakchott. There is still asphalt on the PC, but instead of sidewalks there are sandy roadsides, which are difficult to walk on due to the abundance of sand. Garbage is everywhere. 
The problem is that in Mauritania everywhere there is a continuous desert and in cities, in fact, it is also. There is no landscaping. There are small oases in the country, but apart from dirty palm trees, nothing really grows there. 
That is, here the sand is just everywhere! And besides, there are no parks or squares - when we wanted to relax and drink tea, we went to five-star hotels and ate there in the lobby (take note of this method!) 
Where there are sidewalks, such moments are not perceived as savagery. After all, the main thing is that there is a sidewalk, you can walk on it! 
Well, don't worry about that either. 
In the second city of the country - Nouadhibou, the situation is generally more decent than in the capital (if you can call it that). But the views are also depressing - the desert begins right behind the outskirts. 
Getting to the markets or just walking along the littered outskirts, there is practically no doubt about which continent you are on. 
But the country is not completely black. The population is approximately 60% Arabs and 40% blacks. Lots of very black people. 
No, these are not Islamic terrorists! And they cover their faces in such a way as to protect them from sandstorms. Tuareg scarves. 
Previously, blacks were slaves to the Arabs, but now freedom, equality, brotherhood 
But, nevertheless, this is an Arab country, first of all, and, most importantly, a religious one. So it is called "Islamic Republic of Mauritania" (abbreviated RIM :)). Well, almost like Iran. Religiosity is manifested here in everything: the locals are constantly interested in your confessional affiliation, or rather, whether you are a Muslim. In Mauritania, you quickly learn the time of all prayers, as they are done by everyone around you. If you take a minibus, it stops and everyone goes out to pray. 
The aunts are all wrapped up. In theory, you can’t take pictures of them, but if you really want to, then .. By the way, some of them themselves begin to talk to me. These girls even wanted to take a picture with me, but then my mother clicked on them and they retreated. 
Afro-aunts often carry all sorts of luggage on their heads like this. 
National Moorish clothes, such hoodies. Every second walks in them. Including officials. 
An insane amount of kids. In the absence of playgrounds, they play with anything on the streets. 
Old tires are very popular. 
One can only be glad for our children that they do not have to play like this in the garbage. . Thank you comrade .... (insert your own version) for our happy childhood! 
I was surprised with sadness at how miserable children's playgrounds are in Morocco, and how few of them. But what about Morocco? There are practically no playgrounds in Mauritania. Children play with all sorts of rubbish, with tires, stones, and whatever comes to hand. Inexhaustible childish fantasy, as you know. 
Mauritania is an African poor country. Everyone lives here more than simply. 
Here is a typical house - bare walls, no furniture - they sleep on mattresses that are not the first freshness, the set of dishes is minimal. 
Shower, and indeed tap water in Mauritania - a luxury. And how else to be in a desert country. That's why everything is dirty - there is physically not enough water to wash something other than clothes. 
A donkey brings water to this house every few days, it is stored in a special tank. The water is dirty, you can only wash with it. 
Standard Moorish shower combined with toilet. Say thank you for the smells until LJ has learned to convey. 
But no matter how modest the decoration of the house is, the zombie man in it will almost certainly be. I remember this rule from the Amazonian Peru. 
Roads in the country are generally good. Asphalt laid, more or less tolerably. There is even a markup somewhere. 
This asphalt on the Arat-Zuerat highway was obviously just laid down. There used to be a primer here. 
However, road signs and kilometer posts are missing as a class! You can only roughly imagine where you are. 
Along all the tracks there is an incredible bunch of police posts. On each of them, the police stop all the cars and rewrite the data. However, for foreigners, the police are harmless. They overwrite data and that's it. Often they just want copies of the passport, it is recommended to make more of these copies before leaving for Mauritania. This will speed up the posting process. 
Well, they are quite friendly. They feed, water, catch cars. Several times the police treated me with local pilaf. And then they found the car to the right place.
Police posts are desperately simple and primitive. Booth measuring 3 by 3 meters. Inside there is nothing but a table, a chair and a notebook in which all passing people are recorded. Of course, there is no light (there are no less problems with it than with water), in the evening and at night everything is recorded with a flashlight. The policemen usually sleep here, here they have the same dirty mattresses. Sometimes there is a gas cylinder for making tea or pilaf. Flies are flying around. 
In general, whatever you say, an extremely unenviable prospect of being a policeman in Mauritania. And it's still winter, there's no heat. And it is all the more joyful that the Mauritanian policemen do not become malicious assholes from such a lifestyle, taking out all their troubles on citizens, but remain pleasant and sympathetic people. 
The non-tourism of the country is very beneficial for it in this aspect. In the same neighboring Morocco, they get you with questions and harassment more often, and they want to deceive you more often. There is none of that here. 
Most shops are more than primitive. If the place allows, sellers also sleep right in them. The vast majority of products are imported from neighboring countries: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia. There are also Spain and France. 
Those stores that rent more space for solidity create the appearance of an abundance of assortment in the "Soviet" way, so popular in Cuba - by displaying the same product in a row on the windows. 
The only Auchan in the whole country. We went at the height of the working day - absolutely empty. It is unusual for the Moors to stock up in supermarkets, the markets are much clearer and cheaper. I asked if it was possible to pay with a card, they said that it was like "yes, now we'll get the device." In the end, they never found him. 
There are cool villas in Nouakchott and Nouadhibou! Flowers, landscaping .. And around right at the walls there is a dusty primer and a garbage dump. 
Surprisingly, there are windmills in the country! I wonder if they are actually used for their intended purpose? 
Mauritania is a country of pets. Goats, donkeys, camels, chickens. Rarely cows. Everything is carried on donkeys. 
Sometimes they themselves interact with each other without the intermediary services of a person. 
Camel hangout on the outskirts of Nouakchott. All single. 
In Zuerat. 
Why not? 
Donkey parking. Directly at least enter the payment. Why not? 
I have never seen so many goats in any country before. Well, somehow more sheep are popular everywhere. I’ll even say more: I’ve never seen goats anywhere, except for single specimens in Russia. Or I don't remember. And there are only goats, no rams. 
In the absence of meadows and, in general, any grass in the desert area, goats usually graze in the garbage heaps. Or, at best, gnaw at the trees. 
Moorish leader! Reminded the Old Man 
The food is simple and primitive. In the eateries you can eat chicken with side dishes for 2-3 dollars, well, or somewhere, like there is still fish. Couscous, a dish made from some kind of flour, is popular among residents. By the way, it is also common in Morocco. They all eat from one large plate, and always with their hands. 
On the penultimate day, I found a cool cafe next to the registration, where for about 2 euros you can eat chicken with such an abundance of different side dishes that it’s not easy for two to eat. 
The cafe looks like this: food on the floor, sitting on pillows. Popular with locals who eat couscous here, yes, with their hands. 
Near the Mauritanian McDuck. 
Moors drink tea all the time. But it is difficult for a Russian person to drink it. And now I will explain why. No, the tea is delicious! But .. while you wait for him, you will have time to go crazy. The Moors boil tea for a long time in a small teapot, then pour it into glasses, then pour it from glass to glass, then pour some of it out, then put the teapot on, then add mint, sugar, still flirt with glasses, and, voila! After 15 minutes you are given a glass with a capacity of 100 g, half filled!!! You drink it in one gulp, maybe they will pour another 50 g of tea for you, and wait another 15-20 minutes for the next batch .. 
This process has always pissed me off. I tried, if possible, to cook a lot of tea in a thermos myself and brew it with bags :) 
So to sum up: the main attraction in the country (well, except for the train, of course) is the people. Kind, open, direct. However, Mauritania is definitely not the kind of country that you still want to visit. Not because something is wrong with her, but because once is enough for her. Yes, and it is visited in many respects only because the path from Europe to Africa lies through it, and due to the geopolitical features of the continent, there is no way to bypass it. 
Travel notes. Day 5
Today our expedition set a record! We drove 934 kilometers through the desert. 934 kilometers of the same boring road, not a single tree, just a few villages and a couple of cities. Everything ... There is nothing more boring than the desert.
For some reason it seemed to me that Mauritania is some kind of beautiful country with beautiful landscapes, heavenly beaches and cities as old as time. The very name of this beautiful country sounds like a song. The reality is very disappointing. So far, Mauritania is one continuous dirty desert. Perfectly flat, without a single tree, only the skeletons of old cars sometimes dilute the dull landscape.
Today was also not without losses. I lost my dream, the dream of beautiful Mauritania. Apparently, I need to find myself another country, which in my subconscious will now illustrate heaven on earth.
Mauritania upset not only me. All participants in the rally collapsed. Pyotr Lovygin almost did not take out his camera and all day long looked out the window with his big eyes. There was a mask of sorrow and hopelessness on his face, because at the border all our stocks of alcohol were confiscated. The head of the protocol service, Wheel, was also in a very bad mood, I made him write posts about all sorts of diplomatic formalities that he settles on the road. The man and the ship Resnyansky did not leave his back seat for the whole day, where he equipped an office. He covered the car windows with jackets and enjoyed being alone. By the way, we managed to find out another gift of Resnyansky - he composes music! I won't be surprised if tomorrow it turns out that he waltzes professionally or solves a Rubik's cube blindfolded. Resnyansky's music is beautiful. You know, if there is a paradise somewhere, then something from Resnyansky will certainly play there. At least my subconscious took a few of its melodies to illustrate paradise.
Oh yes, I forgot to say why we all lost it. I didn't feed anyone out of savings today!
01. Road in Western Sahara... 
02. Beaches... 
03. Paradise wild coast, the entire coast of Africa is generously polluted by man. it is false to imagine how many plastic bottles and other garbage are floating in the ocean. 
04. This is a village. Not a camp, but a village with a pointer and a place on the map. 
05. We reach the border. There were no problems on the Moroccan side. We filled out the forms, received a stamp, the customs officer did not even inspect the bags and wished us a happy journey.
Just outside the gates of the Moroccan customs, the road suddenly ended. Instead, it is a white desert littered with rubbish and dozens of dirt roads, now fanning out, then again flowing into one wide dusty road. We drove to the Mauritanian border for about a kilometer. The entire neutral zone is littered with garbage, for some reason there are a lot of old TVs, it seems that a television factory exploded nearby and filled up the entire desert. 
06. As the Mauritanian customs officer explained, rich Moroccans throw away TVs here for poor neighbors from the south. Who throws out cars here is not clear, but there are also a lot of them here. 
07. The first thing the Mauritanian policeman asked. do we have alcohol. There was alcohol. customs booty was 5 bottles of wine and 3 cans of beer. The import of alcohol into Mauritania is strictly prohibited. The whole car was searched very carefully, climbed into all the bags. Then it was necessary to collect a bunch of stamps, fill out some papers. 
08. As a result, it took us 2 hours to make 2 borders. Not as bad as expected. 
09. Mauritanian policeman sits on a chain ... "Chained dog of the regime" - commented Lovygin. 
10. We stopped in Nouadhibou. It is the third largest city in Mauritania. We would be embarrassed to call it a city, so, 3 streets and a dozen houses. 
11. Restaurant. 
12. Upon learning that you are from Russia, everyone reacts differently. Someone breaks into a smile: “OOO! Russia! Vladimir Putin!”, someone recalls that two Moroccan football players play in Anji, Makhachkala, someone inquires about Abramovich’s health and wonders if Monsieur wants to buy several African clubs. Someone even remembered swimmer Popov and tennis player Sharapova. In general, most of the associations with Russia are related to sports, Africans love football very much and closely follow sports news. 
13. Mauritania is an Islamic country where everything is very strict. The correct name for it is al-Jumhuriya al-Islamiyya al-Muritanya. 
14. By the way, Mauritania is the last state in the world where slavery is still preserved. Despite the official abolition of slavery, first in July 1980 and then in 2007. de facto, about 20% of the population of Mauritania (600 thousand people in 2011) are slaves. The bulk of the slaves are blacks belonging to the ruling class of Berbers. Slaves do not have any personal, economic or political rights, while children born become the property of slave owners. 
15. Street school. 
16. Moorish fashion. 
17.
18. Nouadhibou is famous for its shipwreck cemetery. 
19. More recently, the entire coast was strewn with rusty ships. 
20. Now their number is greatly reduced. Illegal sawmills work on the shore, pulling ships ashore, sawing them and selling scrap. 
21. This is how a ship is pulled ashore by a tractor. 
22.
23. Filming is strictly prohibited. As soon as they saw the camera, they immediately ran up and kicked out. In general, everyone here is very nervous. 
24. Security. 
26. Local residents. 
27. Shop. Unfortunately, we did not manage to get food, we had to dine with store food. We eat bread all day 
28. Mr. Resnyansky is working. 
29. Many residents live in makeshift sheds. It is considered special chic to get yourself an old camping site. 
30. An ordinary village looks like this. 
31. Mauritania looks like this. Hundreds of kilometers of such a desert. 
32. Kruzenshtern-Resnyansky rushes to the south! 
33. Sunset in the desert. More than 60% of the country's territory is occupied by the rocky and sandy deserts of Western Sahara. 3/4 of the country's territory is occupied by deserts. 
The content of the article
MAURITANIA, Islamic Republic of Mauritania. State in northwestern Africa. The capital is the city of Nouakchott (588 thousand people - 2005). Territory- 1031 thousand square meters. km. Administrative-territorial division- 12 regions and the autonomous region of Nouakchott. Population– 3.18 million people (2006, estimate). Official language- Arabic. Religion Islam and traditional African beliefs. Currency unit- ugh. National holiday- Independence Day (1960), November 28. Mauritania has been a member of the UN since 1961, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) since 1963, and since 2002 its successor - the African Union (AU), the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) since 1969, the League of Arab States since 1973, the Union the Arab Maghreb (AMU) since 1989, the Organization for the Development of States on the Senegal River since 1972, etc.
Geographic location and boundaries.
Continental State. It borders in the north with Western Sahara, in the northeast - with Algeria, in the east and south - with Mali, in the south - with Senegal. In the west it is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The length of the coastline is 754 km.
Nature.
Most of the territory of Mauritania is occupied by a low-lying desert, turning into a semi-desert in the south. The region of Shemmam in the extreme south of the country, adjacent to the Senegal, the only river with permanent flow, is characterized by a short rainy season. At the end of summer, 300–500 mm of precipitation falls. This amount of precipitation, combined with the flooding of the river, creates favorable conditions for agriculture.
To the north of Shemmama, on the low plains of Brakna and Trarza, where an average of 250 mm of precipitation falls annually, shrub vegetation is common, which is an unproductive pasture. Sheep, goats and cattle graze in this area, which is the source of food for the local population. In the drier northern parts of the plains, camel breeding is important. The vegetation cover in the south of the country is dominated by xerophilic shrubs and acacias, many of which serve as a source of gum arabic. In addition to the southern regions, agriculture is developed in the oases. Rich deposits of iron and copper ores have been explored on the low plains of Mauritania in the region of Inshiri in the vicinity of Akjuzht.
Along the low sandy coast stretches a strip of salt marshes and temporary salt lakes - sebha. Dry winds blow from the northeast from the Sahara Desert for most of the year. Therefore, the average annual rainfall in the Nouadhibou area (in the north of the coastal strip) is only 37 mm. On the coast, as a rule, temperatures are lower than in the interior. So, for example, in Nouakchott temperatures range from 13 ° C to 33 ° C, and in Atar (remote more than 300 km from the coast of the Atlantic Ocean) - from 12 ° C to 43 ° C. Coastal waters in the Nouakchott region abound in fish resources. The main commercial fish are sardine, tuna, whiting, etc.
Sandstone plateaus over 300 m high in the interior of the country extend from the northern border to the valley of the Senegal river. Here, on average, approx. 100 mm rainfall. The population, concentrated exclusively in fertile oases, where groundwater comes to the surface, is engaged in the cultivation of date palms.
The eastern regions are sandy and rocky deserts. The southeastern part of Mauritania is occupied by the Khod Desert, bounded in the north and east by steep ledges of a plateau up to 120 m high. it was a fertile inhabited area, which was subsequently abandoned as the water sources dried up.
Since the 1960s, precipitation in the Sahel part of Mauritania has been declining: in the early 1990s, on average, only 100 mm fell annually. In recent decades, the Sahara desert as a whole has shifted to the south. All this has led to significant changes in the environment. Due to the decrease in the volume of runoff, the floods on the Senegal River stopped, and even the Shemmam region turned into a zone of risky agriculture.
Minerals– diamonds, gypsum, granite, iron, gold, rock salt, cobalt, copper, oil, natural gas and phosphates.
Population.
The population of Mauritania professes Islam and is divided into two groups. In the south of the country, along the Senegal River, settled agricultural peoples (Wolof, Tukuler and Soninke) live, making up approximately 1/5 of the total population. The highest population density is near the southern border in the Shemmam region, on the right bank of Senegal. The rest of the population - pastoral nomads - is dispersed over vast expanses of deserts and semi-deserts. Ethnically they belong to the Moors, a people of mixed Arab, Berber and West African origin, and the Tuareg.
Berbers inhabited North and Northwest Africa even before the new era. After the Arab invasion of North Africa (seventh to eighth centuries), they were driven back to the desert regions. Some Berber tribes mixed with the Arabs. Formally, they all converted to Islam, although pre-Islamic cults play a large role in the Berber ethno-cultural complex. Many Berber tribes switched to using Arabic. However, there are still enclaves of the Berber-speaking population. Traditionally, the Berbers lead a semi-nomadic lifestyle. Many of them originally settled in oases. They construct small dams to store water for the cultivation of grains and dates. Nomadic pastoralists have common ownership of pasture lands. However, cultivated land is usually privately owned. The Berbers are known for their warlike disposition. They were accustomed to attack and threaten, but rarely resorted to large-scale military action. Despite the constant confrontation between the two most influential political groups of the Berbers, an agreement was reached in each locality on joint defense and alternate use of pastures during the period of seasonal migrations. In Berber society, all its members enjoy equal rights; local assemblies, in which all adult males participate, are empowered.
Bedouin nomadic Arabs came to these lands as conquerors and, if they did not hope for sufficient productivity of their herds, they exacted tribute from the population or forced them to work for themselves. Experiencing a clear dislike for a settled way of life, they neglected the experience of the sedentary economy of the Berbers. The traditional dwelling for the Bedouins was tents made of felted camel or goat hair, painted black. The Imragen Bedouin inhabitants of the coast abandoned their nomadic lifestyle and took up fishing. Like the Arab population of the Maghreb (i.e., Northwest Africa), they created a society with a developed class-caste structure. The lowest caste was the Black Moors (Harratins), descendants of freed slaves.
Tuareg, i.e. Berbers, who professed Christianity before Islamization, traditionally roam with herds of camels and live in red tents during camps. They distinguish between two types of property: earned by labor and seized by force. The latter is shared. Tuareg women (unlike Arab women) can own movable property and do not wear a chador (Tuareg men cover their faces). In addition, they are the keepers of musical and poetic traditions.
The oases were originally inhabited by black West Africans, descendants of pastoral slaves. Now the local population cultivates grain crops and dates there and is engaged in animal husbandry.
In the valley of the Senegal river, agriculture is mainly carried out by tukulers, soninke and wolof (peoples also living in the territory of neighboring Senegal). They prefer to speak their own languages rather than Arabic, and are wary of the Arabic-speaking majority of the country's population. The highest population density is in the Shemmam region.
Long droughts have changed the traditional way of life of the Mauritanians. About 90% of the country's population, which in 1963 consisted of 83% nomads, was forced to move to a settled life, often in unsettled camps around major cities. If in 1977 the number of the nomadic population of Mauritania was 444 thousand people, then according to the 1988 census, out of total number Of 1,864 thousand Mauritanians, only 224 thousand remained nomads. In the 1980s, as a result of the forced Arabization of areas with a predominantly black African population, in particular those located along the border with Senegal, interethnic contradictions intensified in the country.
The average population density is 2.7 people. per 1 sq. km (2002). Its average annual growth is 2.88%. Birth rate - 40.99 per 1000 people, mortality - 12.16 per 1000 people. Child mortality - 69.48 per 1000 newborns. 45.6% of the population are children under 14 years of age. Residents who have reached the age of 65 - 2.2%. The average age of the population is 17 years. Fertility rate (average number of children born per woman) - 5.86. Life expectancy - 53.12 years (men - 50.88, women - 55.42). The purchasing power of the population is approx. 2 thousand US dollars. (All figures are given in estimates for 2006).
Mauritania is a multi-ethnic state. 70% of the country's population are Moors of Arab-Berber origin (belong to the Caucasian race). OK. 30% are African peoples (Bambara, Wolof, Sarakole, Tukuler, Fulbe, etc.). Less than 1% of the population of Mauritania are Europeans (French and Spaniards), as well as immigrants from Senegal and Mali. In addition to Arabic, French is widely spoken. Some local dialects (Wolof, Pulaar, Soninke) are recognized as languages of interethnic communication.
The urban population is approx. 59% (2004). Large cities - Nouadhibou (76.1 thousand people), Kaedi (51.6 thousand people) - 2001.
Mauritanian labor migrants are in the Gambia and the Ivory Coast. Since the 1960s, Mauritanian migrants and refugees have found refuge in France. Mauritania has also been a host country for refugees from Sierra Leone (most of them were repatriated in 2002 with the help of the Office of the Supreme Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)).A serious problem is the increase in recent years of the flow of illegal migrants from other African countries who are trying to get to Europe through the territory of Mauritania (currently there are about 10 thousand people in the country). In March 2006, at the request of the government, representatives of the European Union began to work in the country, whose activities are aimed at combating illegal immigration.
Religions.
99.6% of the country's population are Muslims. Islam is the official religion in Mauritania. The most common is the Sunni direction of the Maliki persuasion. The penetration of Islam began in the 8th century. 0.1% of the population adhere to traditional African beliefs (animalism, fetishism, the cult of ancestors, the forces of nature, etc.). Christianity began to spread in the 16th and 17th centuries. In a small community of Christians, the majority are Catholics.
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
State device.
Mauritania is a republic. The constitution adopted in July 1991 is in force. The head of state is the president, who is elected by direct universal suffrage for a 6-year term, he can be re-elected an unlimited number of times. Legislative power is exercised by a bicameral parliament, which consists of the Senate (56 deputies are elected by indirect and secret elections by the heads of local authorities for 6 years; every 2 years the composition of the Senate is updated by 1/3) and the National Assembly (81 deputies are elected by direct universal suffrage for 5 -year period).
After the military coup on August 3, 2005, the leadership of the country is carried out by the Military Council for Justice and Democracy, headed by the chairman, Colonel Ely Ould Mohamed Vall.
State flag. A rectangular panel of green color, on which images of a yellow crescent and a five-pointed star are placed (the ends of the crescent are directed upwards, and the star is located above it).
administrative device. Mauritania is divided into 12 regions and the autonomous metropolitan area of Nouakchott, which in turn are divided into 53 districts and 208 communes.
Judicial system. Based on Sharia and French civil law. There are the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, as well as local courts.
Armed Forces and Defense. The national armed forces in 2002 numbered 15.75 thousand people. (Army - 15 thousand people, Navy - 500 people, Air Force - 250 people). There are also paramilitary formations numbering approx. 5 thousand people Service in the army (2 years) is carried out on a mandatory basis. In June 2005, units of the Mauritanian armed forces (along with the military personnel of the United States, Algeria, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Senegal, Tunisia and Chad) took part in military maneuvers in the Sahara Desert, code-named "Flintlock 2005". Mauritania has been included in the list of African countries that, by decision of the US Department of Defense, are being assisted in the training of military personnel. Defense spending in 2005 was $19.32 million (1.4% of GDP).
Foreign policy.
It is based on the policy of non-alignment. Friendly relations are maintained with Morocco, Algeria, Mali and other countries of the continent. Relations with neighboring Senegal became complicated in 1989 due to a border dispute between these countries. Close ties have been established with France. At the current stage, Mauritania is in favor of the integration of the Arab states within the framework of the UAMU, and is in favor of a peaceful settlement of the problem of Western Sahara. Mauritania is one of three Arab states that have diplomatic relations with Israel. In May 2005, Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom paid an official visit to Mauritania.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the existence of an unconstitutional regime in Mauritania, the United States continues contacts with it in the field of antiterrorist cooperation. Close relations have been established with China. In May 2006, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing visited Nouakchott.
Diplomatic relations between the USSR and Mauritania were established on July 12, 1964. Cooperation was carried out in the field of geological exploration and sea fishing. In December 1991, the Russian Federation was recognized as the legal successor of the USSR. In 2003, a mixed Russian-Mauritanian fisheries commission was created. Until 2003, 942 Mauritanians were educated in the universities of the USSR/Russia. The Russian Federation annually provides 15 scholarships for students from Mauritania.
political organizations.
A multi-party system has developed in the country (about 20 political parties and associations are registered - 2003). The most influential of them:
– « Rally for Democracy and Unity», ODE(Rassemblement pour la démocratie et l "unité), chairman - Ahmed Ould Sidi Baba. Party created in 1991;
– « Republican Social Democratic Party», RSDP(Parti républicain social-démocrate), leader - Maaouya Ould Sidi Ahmed Taya, gene. sec. - Boulaha Ould Megueya. Main in 1991, in 1995 the Movement of Independent Democrats joined it;
– « Union of Progressive Forces», THX(Union des forces progressives, UFP), chairman - Mohammed Ould Maouloud, gen. sec. - Mohammed al-Moustapha Ould Bedreddine. The party was founded in 2000 as a result of the split of the Union of Democratic Forces - New Era party.
Trade union associations. "Union of workers of Mauritania", CTM (Union des travailleurs de Mauritanie, UTM). It is a single nationwide trade union center. Founded in 1961, it has 45,000 members. The General Secretary is Abderahmane Ould Boubou.
ECONOMY
In the 1960s, when iron ore mining began, Mauritania was classified as a developing country with a low average income. However, in the 1970s, the country's economy was undermined by years of droughts, unstable mining operations, and falling global demand for iron ore. During the 1980s, fishing boomed and became more profitable than iron ore mining. In 1994, the gross domestic product (GDP) of Mauritania, i.e. the combined value of domestically produced goods and services was $912 million, or $411 per capita, marking Mauritania's transition to the low-income developing country category.
Before the emergence of mining and fishing in Mauritania, almost the entire population of the country was employed in livestock and subsistence farming.
Mauritania belongs to the group of least developed countries in the world. The basis of the economy is industrial marine fishing and mining. 40% of the country's population is below the poverty line (2004).
In 2005, GDP amounted to 6.89 billion US dollars, and its growth was 5.5%. The unemployment rate in 2004 was 20%. Mauritania's total debt to the IMF and other donors is at stake, according to the country's government. 2005 was $835 million. In December 2005, the IMF temporarily postponed the issue of writing off its debt. The government pins great hopes on the development of oil production; in March 2006 he approved the project to create national fund oil revenues.
Labor resources.
In 2001, the economically active population was 1.21 million people. (including 786 thousand people in agriculture).
Agriculture.
The share of the agricultural sector in GDP is 25%, it employs 50% of the economically active population (2001). The main sector is animal husbandry (breeding of cattle, camels, sheep and goats). 0.2% of the land is cultivated (2005). They grow maize, vegetables, millet, wheat, rice, sorghum, dates and barley. The country has significant stocks of fish resources. The average annual catch of fish and seafood is more than 500 thousand tons. Agriculture is carried out by backward methods, almost completely dependent on the amount of precipitation. Serious damage is done to it by locust invasions; the attack of these insects on Mauritania in July 2004 was recognized by the UN Food and Agriculture Program (FAO) as the most massive on the continent over the past 15 years. The agricultural sector covers 30% of the needs of the country's population in food.
Industry.
The share in GDP is 29%, it employs 10% of the economically active population (2001). The share of the mining industry in GDP is 12% (2004). Iron ore and phosphates are mined. Since 1994, with the technical assistance of specialists from Australia, gold mining has been carried out. In 2003, the development of two large gold deposits began in the Taziast region (western part of the country). According to experts, the country has oil reserves of 1 billion barrels and gas reserves of 30 billion cubic meters. In 2006, the exploitation of the oil field in Chinguitti (western part of the country, total reserves are estimated at 135-150 million barrels) began. The first 950,000 barrels of oil produced were sold to China. The enterprises of the food, fish processing and chemical industries are operating, the production of building materials has been established.
International trade.
The volume of imports significantly exceeds the volume of exports: imports (in US dollars) amounted to 1.12 billion, exports - 784 million. The main imports are oil products, machinery, equipment, food and consumer goods. The main import partners are France (14.2%), USA (7.6%), China (6.5%), Spain (5.9%), UK (4.6%), Germany (4.3 %), Belgium (4.2%) - 2004. Iron ore, gold, fish and seafood, natural gas are exported. The main export partners are Japan (12.8%), France (10.9%), Germany and Spain (9.5% each), Italy (9.4%), Belgium (7.3%), Kot -d "Ivoire (6.2%), China (5.9%), Russia (4.5%) - 2004.
Energy.
Electricity is generated at thermal power plants and hydroelectric power plants (on the Senegal River). In 2003, its production amounted to 185.6 million kilowatt-hours.
Transport.
The transport system is poorly developed, the main mode of transport is automobile. Total length motorways - 9 thousand km (with a hard surface - about 2 thousand km) - 2003. The total length of railways is 717 km (2004). Navigation along the Senegal river has been established. River ports are located at Kaedi, Guraye and Roso. The merchant fleet has 142 ships (2002). There are 24 airports and runways (8 of them are paved) - 2005. International airports are located in the cities of Nouakchott and Nouadhibou.
Finance and credit.
The monetary unit is the ouguiya (MRO), consisting of 5 hums. Introduced in 1973, replacing the CFA franc (franc of the African Financial Community).
Tourism.
Foreign tourists are attracted by the beauty of natural landscapes, ancient monuments of history and architecture, rich cultural traditions of local peoples. The route of the international rally Paris-Dakar passes through the territory of Mauritania. In 1999, 24,000 foreign tourists visited the country, and tourism revenues amounted to $28 million.
Attractions - National Museum, Carpet Center (Nouakchott), located in the desert, the "ghost" town of Tichit, national parks Band d "Arguin, Dowling, etc.
SOCIETY AND CULTURE
Education.
The first high school was opened in Roso in 1946. A 6-year elementary education, which children receive at the age of 6-11 years. Classes are conducted in Arabic, in elementary school education is free. Secondary education (6 years) takes place in two stages (3 years each). The higher education system includes the university located in the capital (founded in 1981), the Higher Administrative School (1966), pedagogical institute(1971), as well as the Institute of Islamic Studies (Butilimit, 1961). 312 teachers work at 3 faculties of the university and 9.84 thousand students study (2002). In March 2002, the 2nd African Science and Technology Summit took place in Nouakchott. In May of the same year, the International Book Fair was held in the capital, at which 97 publishing houses from Arab countries were represented. In 2003, 41.7% of the population were literate (51.8% of men and 31.9% of women).
Healthcare.
Architecture, fine arts and crafts.
Folk dwellings are rectangular in shape, the walls are built of sandstone, the flat roof is laid on a base of acacia trunks. Among nomadic peoples, dwellings are tents covered with bedspreads made of felted camel wool or fabric. In modern construction, aluminum, reinforced concrete structures and glass are used. A special type of modern architecture is the construction of mosques.
The origin of fine arts in the territory of modern Mauritania began in the Neolithic era. Among the rock paintings of Adrar and Tagant, images of horses, camels and carts predominate.
Crafts and art crafts are well developed, handicraft centers have developed - Aleg (woodworking), Atar (silver work), Mederdra (metal processing), Tagant (leather dressing). The leather industry is the most developed (the manufacture of waterskins, pouches, carpets, bags for grain, pillows, shoes, bags, etc.) and the production of the famous Moorish tapestries. The art of Moorish jewelers is famous for making jewelry from gold, silver and coral. Pottery and production of calabashes (vessels made of pumpkins) are developed. The collection of African traditional and Moorish art is presented in the exposition of the National Museum (Nouakchott).
Music.
The national musical culture was formed as a result of the interaction of the traditions of the Mauritanian Arabs, Berbers and African peoples. The musical traditions of the Moors are closely connected with the art of griots (the common name for professional storytellers and musicians-singers in West Africa), which in Mauritania are called iggiu, tiggivit, gaulo, geser, etc. Modern performers Yakuta mint Vakaran, Dimi mint Abba, Sidati uld Abba continue traditions of an outstanding musician of the 18th century. Saduma Ould Njartu. In Mauritania, the joint participation of men and women is allowed in cult rituals related to music. Solo-choral singing and dancing are common among African peoples - njilal, vango (performed at a fast pace), nanyal (at a slow pace). Musical instruments - harps (ardyn), drums (tbal, daguma), kalyam, bark, kusal (noise), lutes (hambra, tidinite), membranophones, rbab (or rebab - bowed), tom-toms, flutes (zamzaya, neffara).
In the second floor. 20th century musical culture was significantly influenced by popular music, new styles appeared and spread widely. In February 2004 in Nouakchott, with the support of the French Cultural Center, the 1st International Festival of Music of Nomadic Peoples was held. It was attended by folk groups and musical groups from Algeria, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Senegal, France, India and Spain. During the festival, 10 concerts were held and 30 performances were shown. The exhibition, organized as part of the festival, presented musical instruments of the traditional art of griots.
Cinema.
The origin of the national cinema is associated with the name of the director Meda Khondo (full name - Mohammed Medoun Khondo Abib), who made his first short film Oh sun in 1967. Documentary films have been developing since the beginning. 1970s In the same period, director Sydney Sokona began making feature films.
Press, radio broadcasting, television and the Internet.
Published:
- in Arabic and French: daily government newspaper "Al-Shaab" (Al-Chaab - "People"), weekly independent newspaper "Nouakchott-Info" (Nouakchott-Info - "Nuakchott-info") and published 6 times a year newspaper "Le Pepel" ( Le Peuple - "People");
- in French, the government gazette "Official Journal" (Journal Officiel - "Official Gazette") is published every two weeks.
The Mauritanian Information Agency, AMI (Agence mauritanienne de l "information, AMI) has been operating in Nouakchott since 1975, is under the control of the government. Until January 1990, it was called the Mauritanian Press Agency. Radio Broadcasting Service "Radio Mauritania" (Radio de Mauritanie, RM") was established in 1958, located in the capital, also controlled by the government. The television service (Television de Mauritanie, TVM) has been operating since 1984. Radio programs are broadcast in Arabic, French and the local languages of Wolof, Sarakole and Tukuler. Mauritania entered the the number of 12 countries (along with Angola, Burkina Faso, Gambia, DRC, Cape Verde, Nigeria, Namibia, Sao Tome and Principe, Swaziland, Togo and Chad) participating in the African Continent's Internet Connection project, which is partially funded by United Nations Development Program (UNDP) In 2005 there were 14,000 Internet users.
STORY
Berbers from North Africa settled in what is now Mauritania in 200 BC. Moving south in search of pastures, they often imposed tribute on local Negroid farmers, and those who resisted were pushed back to the Senegal River. The appearance of camels from North Africa in the late period of the Roman Empire in this area marked the beginning of caravan trade between the Mediterranean coast and the Niger River basin, which brought profits to the Berber group of Sanhaja tribes. Capturing the important caravan trade point of Audagost in eastern Mauritania on their way to the salt mines of Sijilmasa to the north, the Berbers came into conflict with the empire of Ghana, which at that time was expanding its borders in a northerly direction. The state of Ghana was founded in the 3rd century. AD, and part of its territory fell on the modern regions of Aukar, Hod el-Gharbi and Hod el-Sharki of southeastern Mauritania. In 990, Ghana captured Audagost, forcing the Lemtuna and Goddala tribes, which were part of the defeated Sanhaj, to unite in a confederation for self-defense. In the 10th-11th centuries. some leaders of the Sanhaj converted to Islam and soon turned into supporters of the Sunni trend. The descendants of the Islamized Berber nobility, the Almoravides, spread their religious beliefs among ordinary Berbers, created a religious and political movement, and in 1076 captured the capital of Ghana. Although the rivalry among the victors again led to the split of the Berber tribes, Ghana was dealt a blow from which she never recovered. In a significantly narrowed borders, it existed until 1240.
In the 11th-12th centuries. Berbers felt the effects of the Arab conquests in North Africa. In the 15th–17th centuries after several centuries of relatively peaceful penetration into the territory of Mauritania, the Bedouins of the Hassan tribe conquered the local Berbers and, having mixed with them, laid the foundation for the ethnic group of the Moors (Arab-Berbers). Although some of the Berbers, for example, the ancestors of the Tuareg, not wanting to fall under the rule of the Arabs, retreated into the desert, for the majority, Arabic became their native language, and Islam became a new religion. Many black Africans, engaged in settled agriculture in the southern regions of the country, during the 11-16 centuries. were conquered by the Berbers and turned into subjects of the new Arab emirates of Trarza, Brakna and Tagant.
The Portuguese, who appeared off the coast of the Atlantic Ocean in the 15th century, founded a trading fort on Argen Island in 1461. At various times during the 17th and 18th centuries. they were replaced by Dutch, English and, finally, French traders. European merchants sought to control the gum arabic trade from the Sahel.
At the beginning of the 19th century French traders based in Senegal repeatedly came into conflict with the Arab emirs, who tried to control and tax the gum arabic trade. In 1855-1858 the governor of Senegal, Louis Federb, led the French campaign against the emirate of Trarza. In the 19th century French officers, moving north from Senegal, explored the interior of the desert. In the early 1900s, a French force under the command of Xavier Coppolani invaded these areas to protect the interests of French merchants and began to rule them as part of the French colony of Senegal. In 1904 these territories were withdrawn from Senegal and in 1920 incorporated into French West Africa. Nevertheless, until 1957 Saint-Louis in Senegal remained their capital. The French, with considerable difficulty, managed the nomadic population, among which intertribal feuds did not stop, as well as rivalry between Arabs and Berbers. Administrative difficulties were exacerbated by tensions between the nomadic and sedentary populations. Even after the end of World War II, some areas continued to be under military administration.
In 1946 Mauritania was granted the right to form a territorial assembly and to be represented in the French parliament. The first political organizations began to emerge, which were not yet massive. In 1958, Mauritania became part of the French Community under the name of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, and on November 28, 1960, it became an independent state. Moktar Ould Dadda became the first prime minister and then president of Mauritania. Relying initially on the traditional elites and France, he, following the example of the radical regime of Guinea, created a mass political party and ultimately concentrated all power in his hands. Moktar Ould Dadda led Mauritania out of the franc zone and proclaimed Arabic the state language, which immediately provoked resistance from the southerners, who feared the domination of the Moors, who made up the majority of the population.
In 1976, an agreement was reached on the transfer of the colonial possession of Spain - Western Sahara (formerly Spanish Sahara) - under the temporary administrative control of Morocco and Mauritania. However, this was followed by an unpopular war among the Mauritanians with the Polisario Front, the national liberation movement of Western Sahara, which was assisted by Algeria.
In July 1978, in a bloodless military coup, the army overthrew Moktar Ould Daddu. Immediately after this, the constitution was suspended, the government, parliament, public organizations were dissolved, and power was transferred to the Military Committee for National Revival (VKNV). Its leader, Lieutenant Colonel Mustafa Ould Mohammed Salek, took over as president of the country. POLISARIO announced an end to the war with Mauritania, but the Moroccan leadership insisted that the Mauritanians continue to fight for their part of Western Sahara.
The next few years were marked by a frequent change of leaders of the military regime. Relations between the Negroid population and the Moors remained tense. A constant source of internal political instability was the attempts of individual members of the Military Committee to carry out a new military coup, as well as differences with Morocco on the issue of Western Sahara.
For a short time in 1979, Mustafa Ould Mohammed Salek established a regime of personal power and recreated the Military Committee of National Revival under a new name, which he continued to lead after his retirement. He was soon removed by Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed Luli, who, in turn, was forced to give up power in 1980 in favor of Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed Huna Ould Heydalla. The latter, being prime minister, in July 1979 announced the final renunciation of Mauritania's claims to the territory of Western Sahara. In 1981, Mohammed Huna Ould Heydallah abandoned his intention to form a civilian government and adopt a new constitution.
In 1984, as a result of a bloodless coup, power in the country was seized by Lieutenant Colonel Maauya Ould Sidi Ahmed Taya, who, under Mohammed Hun Ould Heydall, served several times as prime minister. In general, Maawya Ould Sidi Ahmed Taya managed to restore internal stability, embark on economic reforms and take steps towards the democratization of the political system.
Ethnic riots continued in Mauritania until the late 1980s, and a border dispute with Senegal provoked a wave of attacks on black Mauritanians and Senegalese citizens in 1989 and the expulsion of the latter from the country. Disagreements over the demarcation of the Mauritanian-Senegalese border and the repatriation of refugees led to a temporary suspension of diplomatic and economic relations, which were restored in 1992.
In a national referendum held in 1991, a new constitution was adopted, providing for the introduction of a multi-party system. Maauya Ould Sidi Ahmed Thaiya's victory in the 1992 presidential election was marred by riots and allegations of voter fraud. The pro-government Republican Social Democratic Party (RSDP) won an overwhelming majority of seats in the National Assembly elections in 1992 and 1996, as well as in the Senate elections in 1992, 1994 and 1996.
The main events since the adoption of the new constitution have been boycotts of elections by opposition parties claiming that the ruling party has unilateral advantages in the election campaigns, arrests of members of opposition groups and clashes on the basis of interethnic conflicts. Despite the ethnically mixed Mauritanian government and its formal implementation of some of the democratic reforms called for in the new constitution, international human rights monitors in the 1990s continued to note violations of the rights of the black minority population and members of opposition organizations.
In the elections of December 12, 1997, M. Taya was again re-elected president (90.9% of the vote). Several opposition parties were dissolved. In 2003–2004, the authorities foiled three coup attempts. In the presidential elections held on November 7, 2003, out of 6 candidates, Maauyo Sidi Ahmed Ould Taya won again with 67.02% of the vote. His main rival, the former head of state from 1980–1984 Mohammed Huna Ould Heidallah, received 18.67% of the vote. After the opposition protested the election results, Heidalla was accused by the authorities of preparing a coup d'etat and arrested. The main directions of the domestic policy of the Taiya government remained the improvement of the financial sector and the solution of the food problem.
Mauritania in the 21st century
On August 3, 2005, a bloodless military coup was carried out under the leadership of Colonel Eli Ould Mohammed Wahl (Chief of the National Security Service). Power passed to the Military Council for Justice and Democracy, consisting of 17 high-ranking military men headed by Val. The military junta did not take repressive measures against the president, his relatives and his inner circle. This fact helped the country avoid international isolation. In November 2005, the military junta announced that presidential and parliamentary elections would be held.
A referendum to amend the constitution was held on 25 June 2006 (thus transition period reduced from the previously established 2 years to 19 months). According to the draft of the new constitution, the president will be elected for a 5-year term and will be able to hold this post no more than twice. The citizens of the country approved the amendments in a referendum.
March 11, 2007 presidential elections were held. There were 20 candidates running for the presidency. In the first round, none of them gained an absolute majority, so the second round was scheduled, which included Sidi Ould Sheikh Abdallahi (scored 24.8%) and Ahmed Ould Daddah (scored 20.69%). It took place on March 25, 2007. The winner of the second round was Sidi Abdallahi. According to the Central Election Commission, he received 52.85% of the votes.
The political crisis in the country has been brewing since May 2008, when the president appointed 12 ministers who were members of the previous government. Members of the opposition parties also entered the government. However, the new government did not provide new program, and parliament gave him a vote of no confidence, so the government had to resign on 2 July. Prime Minister Yahya Wagf formed a new government on 15 July. However, 25 deputies from the pro-presidential party (PNDD-ADIL) announced that they were withdrawing from the National Assembly, thus the party lost its majority. The president failed to reach an agreement with the deputies. The president removed a number of representatives of the top military leadership from their posts. The troops were out of control, and on August 6, a group of soldiers captured the presidential palace in Nouakchott. The President, Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior were arrested. The military seized power announced their readiness to hold free and direct presidential elections. The coup was condemned by the United Nations and the African Union.
Lyubov Prokopenko
Literature:
Recent history of Africa. M., "Science", 1968
Kowalska-Levitska A. Mauritania(translated from Polish), M., "Nauka", 1981
Lavrentiev S.A., Yakovlev V.M. Mauritania: history and modernity. M., "Knowledge", 1986
Islamic Republic of Mauritania. Directory. M., "Science", 1987
Vavilov V.V. Mauritania. M., "Thought", 1989
Podgornova N.P. Mauritania: 30 years of independence. M., Publishing House of the Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 1990
Lukonin Yu.V. History of Mauritania in modern and modern times. M., "Science", 1991
Calderini, S., Cortese, D., and Webb, J. L. A. Mauritania. Oxford, ABC Clio, 1992
The World of Learning 2003, 53rd Edition. L.-N.Y.: Europa Publications, 2002
Africa South of the Sahara. 2004. L.-N.Y.: Europa Publications, 2003
African countries and Russia. Directory. M.: Publishing House of the Institute for African Studies RAS, 2004
Mauritania The Islamic Republic of Mauritania (French République Islamique de Mauritanie, Arabic Al-Jumhuriya al-Islamiya al-Muritaniya), a state in Northwest Africa. In the west it is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, in the north it borders on Algeria and Western Sahara (Spanish), in the east and south - on Mali and Senegal. Area 1031 thousand km 2. Population 1.5 million (1972 estimate). The capital is the city of Nouakchott. Administratively, the territory of Moscow is divided into 8 districts and 1 metropolitan district. Political system. M. is a republic. The current constitution was adopted on May 20, 1961. The head of state and government is the president, who is elected by the people on the basis of equal direct elections for a five-year term. The president appoints and removes ministers, civil, military and officials, promulgates laws passed by the National Assembly, issues ordinances having the force of law, exercises the right of pardon, ratifies international treaties, is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The government of M. - the Council of Ministers - consists of the president and ministers. The highest body of legislative power is the unicameral National Assembly, consisting of 50 deputies elected by the population for 5 years. The right to vote is granted to all citizens who have reached the age of 21. The districts are headed by governors. In regions, urban and rural communes, elected bodies have been created - regional assemblies and local councils. The judicial system includes the Supreme Court and the courts of first instance, as well as a number of special courts. There are courts of Islamic law. Yu. A. Yudin. Nature. Much of the territory of Mexico is occupied by the sandy and rocky deserts of Western Sahara. The Atlantic coast is low-lying and level (with the exception of the northern part); near the coast there are many sandbanks, bars, islands. The territory of M. belongs to the ancient African-Arabian platform, composed of Precambrian rocks, collected in folds and highly metamorphosed. Archean and Lower Proterozoic crystalline formations protrude to the surface within the Regibat shield, located in the northwest of the country. In the west, it is adjoined along a fault by the meridional elongated Mauritanian-Senegalese folded system of Baikal age (Riphean sandstones, quartzites, tillites, limestones). The southeastern part of M. is occupied by the Taudenny syneclise. At the base of its sedimentary cover lie terrigenous-carbonate sediments of the Upper Riphean. Paleozoic deposits are developed on the Adrar and Tagant plateaus. In the extreme northwest and south of the country, Mesozoic sandstones and conglomerates are common in depressions along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Of the minerals known deposits of copper ores (Akzhuzht), associated with the Precambrian formations of the Regibat Shield; total reserves of copper ore (copper grade from 0.7% to 2.8%) 590 thousand t(1970), there are deposits of iron ore in the Zuerat-Ijil region; total iron ore reserves (with an average iron content of 65%) are estimated at 410 million tons. t(1970). In the west - deposits of rock salt, confined to the sediments of the depressions of the Atlantic coast. To the north of Nouakchott - gypsum reserves, on the coast - ilmenite reserves (200 thousand t, 1970). In the Bunaga region, there is a deposit of rare earth elements. The relief is dominated by low plains and low plateaus. In the north, the Adrar upland has a large-hilly relief (Mount Amozzaga, 732 m). In the south, the sandstone plateaus of Tagant, Asaba and others (average heights 300-400 m) are cut off by ledges. The uplands and plateaus are surrounded by sandy deserts with dunes predominantly NE-trending. In the north and northeast - large sand accumulations - Erg and (Igidi, Shesh, El Dzhuf), continuing in the Algerian Sahara. The climate is tropical desert. Average January temperatures are 16-20°C, July 30-32°C; maximum temperatures are above 40-45 °C. The influence of the ocean on the climate is manifested only in a narrow coastal strip, where the temperature is lower and the air humidity is increased (fogs are frequent). Characterized by withering east winds. Average annual rainfall less than 100 mm, less than 50 in the northeast mm. There are no permanent watercourses, except for the transit Senegal River at the southern border of M. The right bank of the Senegal River belongs to the Sahel zone (see Sahel), where precipitation reaches 200-400 mm in year. Here, flood waters of the river are used for irrigated agriculture. In the rest of Moscow, water is supplied primarily from groundwater and rare sources. Desalination of sea and saline groundwater is planned. The desert regions are characterized by sparse grass-shrub and ephemeral herbaceous vegetation (asheb). In the south - semi-deserts with dry-loving shrubs and acacias, including acacia, which gives gum (gum arabic). The animal world is dominated by species typical of deserts (the most numerous are reptiles and rodents, of carnivores - jackals, the fennec fox). In some areas, ostriches and large ungulates (gazelle, antelope) have been preserved. Coastal waters are rich in commercial fish (sardine, tuna, whiting, etc.). N. A. Bozhko, M. B. Gornung. Population. Over three-fourths of the indigenous inhabitants of Mauritius are Western Saharan Arabs (Moors). Their spoken language is Hasaniya, a dialect of Arabic. They are ubiquitous and form a comparatively ethnically homogeneous population in northern and central Mexico, mostly nomadic. In South M. preserved small group Zenaga Berbers. The rest of the Mauritanians are Negroid peoples: tukulers, Wolof, Fulbe (Pel), Sarakole, Soninke and others. They lead a settled way of life in the south of the country, mainly in the valley of Senegal. The number of foreigners, mostly French, is about 3.7 thousand people. The official languages are Arabic and French. The dominant religion is Islam (Sunnism of the Maliki persuasion); widespread religious sects. In some areas of northern and eastern Malaysia, pre-feudal structures are preserved. The division of the population into traditional social groups(castes) - hasans (warriors), marabouts (clergy), dependent (haratin farmers, servants, tributaries, etc.) - are gradually giving way to new class relations. The official calendar is the Gregorian (see Calendar). For 1963-71 population growth averaged 2.2% per year. Of the 500,000 economically active population, only 17,000 are employed (1973). 90% of the economically active population is employed in agriculture, 10% in industry, fishing and other industries. About 3/4 of the population is engaged in nomadic and semi-nomadic cattle breeding, as well as various crafts. Almost 4/5 of the population is located in the southern part of the country, where the density in some places reaches 35 people per 1 km 2(average density - 1.1 people per 1 km 2). Urban population 10% (1973). The most significant cities are: Nouakchott (130,000 inhabitants in 1973), Nouadhibou, Zouerate, Kaedi, Roseau, Atar. G. N. Utkin. Historical essay. The ancient and medieval history of M. has been poorly studied. In the 7th to 11th centuries, the southern part of Malaysia was part of the medieval states of West Africa (Ghana and Tekrur), while the state formations of the Sanhaja Berbers existed on the territory of northern Malaysia. In the middle of the 11th century, the powerful state of the Almoravids arose on the territory of M., which, in addition to M., included the territory of Morocco and western Algeria. The Almoravid era (until 1146) was the time of the highest prosperity and power of medieval Morocco. In the 13th and 14th centuries, the southern part of Morocco was included in the sphere of influence of the medieval state of Mali, but continued to maintain close ties with Morocco. In the 14th and 15th centuries, the Arab Makil tribes invaded Makhil, accelerating the process of Islamization and Arabization of Makhlia that began in the 11th century. The Arabs occupied a dominant position in M., establishing power over the Sanhaja Berbers and the mixed agricultural population of the oases, the Kharatins. The Chinguetti oasis became the main religious and political center of Mexico. The country itself began to be called Tarb el Bidan (Land of the Whites) or Chinget from the name of Chinguetti. Hasaniya Arabic dialect is widely used. In the 15th century Europeans began to penetrate into M.. The Portuguese and Spaniards established strongholds on the coast of Mexico (Arguin, Portendyck) for the export of black slaves, as well as gold and gum arabic. The Dutch, British, French began to compete with them. The latter created trading posts, mainly along the Senegal River. By Peace of Versailles 1783 (Great Britain, France, Spain) The coast of M. was recognized as a sphere of exclusive interests of France. Intensive French colonization unfolded from the middle of the 19th century. In 1855-58, the French governor of Senegal, Fedderb, undertook military operations against the Arab tribes in the Senegal river basin and by force imposed treaties on "protection" and "freedom" of trade on them. However, by the end of the 19th century, these “contractual” relations were undermined by the resistance of the population of M. to the colonialists. In 1900, France and Spain agreed to delimit spheres of influence in Western Sahara. Using diplomacy and armed forces, the French in 1903 established a protectorate over the Arab tribes of Trarza and Brakna, whose territory was included in 1904 in the "civilian territory of M." within French West Africa (See French West Africa) (FZA). In 1905-06, the resistance of the Trarza and the Brakn was crushed, and the French established themselves in the Center. M. In 1909, after stubborn battles with Mauritanian nomads, French troops captured the Adrar region, the main stronghold of the Mauritanians in the struggle for independence. In 1920, the country was officially declared a French colony within the FZA with its administrative center in Saint-Louis, but the armed resistance of the population of M. actually continued until the mid-1930s. The colonialists introduced a system of direct government into Mexico, although the traditional chiefs retained considerable influence, taking up some positions in the colonial administration. The deprivation of the population of M. of elementary rights, the imposition of heavy taxes, the use of forced labor, frequent requisitions of livestock, and the ban on nomadism in the northern regions led to the flight of the Mauritanians to the regions adjacent to M., in particular to Rio de Oro, where the forces of the Resistance gathered not only M., but also Morocco. After World War II (1939–45), the struggle for the liberation of M. developed with renewed vigor. In the 2nd half of the 40s, the first political parties appeared: the Mauritanian Accord (MS, 1946) led by Horma uld Babana and the Mauritanian Progressive Union (MPS, 1947), headed by Moktar uld Dadda .
The national liberation movement, including the armed uprisings of the Mauritanians, especially intensified after the independence of Morocco was proclaimed in 1956 (in Adrar in 1956–57, in Fort Trenck in 1958, and others). In 1958, the French government was forced to grant M. autonomy within the French Community and the right to create constitutional bodies of internal government. On November 28, 1960, the independent Islamic Republic of Mauritania was proclaimed in the city of Nouakchott. In a sharp struggle over the future of the country, which took place even before the declaration of independence, the MS and the MPS opposed: the first advocated the accession of Morocco to Morocco, the second - for the proclamation of Morocco as a sovereign state while maintaining close ties with France. The leading position was occupied by the Ministry of Railways, with which, after Horma uld Babana and other leaders of the MS left Moscow for Morocco, the main part of the MS merged; The Mauritanian Regrouping Party (PMP) was formed (1958). Beginning in 1960, with the continued strong dependence of Morocco on the former metropolis, which imposed unequal agreements on “cooperation” in June 1961, in the face of the growth of tribalist tendencies (see Tribalism) within the country and serious territorial claims from some neighboring states (Morocco demanded inclusion of M. in its territory) PMP carried out a number of important measures aimed at strengthening the independent development of the country. In May 1961, the constitution of M. was adopted. The leader of the PMP, Moktar uld Dadda, was elected president (since August 1961). The Congress of Mauritanian Unity, held in December 1961, united all Mauritanian parties on the basis of the PMP into the Mauritanian People's Party (PMN), which became the sole and ruling party (a corresponding amendment was made to the constitution in 1965). In accordance with the decisions of the national congresses of the PMN, its domestic politics aimed at "ensuring social progress and the unity of the nation." The M. government proceeded to eliminate the institution of traditional leaders, carried out an administrative-territorial reform, proclaimed equal rights for women, and so on. In foreign policy The government of M. implements the principles of non-alignment with blocs, cooperation with all countries and support for the struggle for the unity of the Arab and African countries. In October 1961 M. was admitted to the UN. M. is a member of the Organization of African Unity, the Organization for the Development of the Senegal River Basin, and the League of Arab States (since the end of 1973). In 1967 the government of M. declared its solidarity with the Arab countries that had been subjected to Israeli aggression. M. repeatedly spoke out in support of the peoples of Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau in their struggle against the Portuguese colonizers. In 1969-70, relations between Morocco and Morocco were normalized. Since 1970, M. has been participating as an observer in the Permanent Consultative Committee of the countries of the Maghreb and ;
cooperates with Algeria and Morocco on the decolonization of the Western (Spanish) Sahara. In 1973 M. entered into with France (to replace the 1961 agreements) new agreements on economic and cultural cooperation, which deprived France of a number of advantages provided for in the 1961 agreements. Diplomatic relations between M. and Soviet Union established on July 12, 1964. In 1966, a trade agreement was signed between Moscow and the USSR, in 1967 an agreement on cultural and scientific cooperation, and in 1973 an agreement in the field of sea fishing. G. N. Utkin. Political parties, trade unions, other public organizations. Mauritanian People's Party (PMN, Parti du Peuple Mauritanien), created in December 1961 as a result of the merger of the Mauritanian Regrouping Party (founded 1958) with parties that were previously in opposition - the Mauritanian National Union (founded 1958), National Revival (founded 1958) , Union of Mauritanian Muslim Socialists (founded 1960). Since December 1961 - the ruling party. 281 thousand members (1973). The Mauritanian Workers' Union, founded in 1961, unites 26 branch trade unions. About 11 thousand members (1973); within the PMN. Youth of the Mauritanian People's Party, founded in 1966. Women of the Mauritanian People's Party, founded in 1964. Economic and geographical essay. Moscow is an agrarian country of the pastoral type with a developing mining industry. The basis of agriculture is extensive cattle breeding and farming. Developed traditional trades and crafts (consumer sector). In 1969, 55% of the gross domestic product was produced in agriculture, and 35% in industry. After achieving independence in 1960, the economic policy of the government was reflected in the first (1963-66) and second (1970-73) 4-year plans aimed at the development and use of natural resources, the creation of new industries within the state and mixed sectors: mining ( iron ore and copper ore) and the fishing industry. Agriculture. The share of nomadic and semi-nomadic pastoralism accounts for over 30% of the national gross product. The pasture area is about 40 million hectares. ha. In 1970/71 there were (in million heads): sheep 5.9; goats 2.5; cattle (zebu) 2.7; camels 0.7; donkeys 0.2; livestock productivity is low. As a result of the severe drought of 1971–72, the number of cattle decreased to 1.6 million, and of sheep and goats to 6 million. in the valley of Senegal it is combined with agriculture. Agriculture is the main source of subsistence for the majority of the inhabitants of the southern part of Mexico, especially the Negroid population. The area of cultivated land is about 300 thousand ha. Main agricultural crops: African millet and sorghum (over 1/3 of the sown area; 100 thousand ha, collection of 70 thousand t in 1972), in oases - date palm (over 880 thousand trees; 18 thousand t dates in 1972). Corn, beans, sweet potatoes, peanuts are also cultivated, and since the late 1960s, rice. Rice harvest was 2000 t in 1972. Of the traditional crafts, the collection of gum arabic is important, mainly in the Sahel zone (an average of 4-7 thousand t per year, satisfies 10% of the world's demand), the extraction of lump salt in the mines of Idzhili (an average of 800 t per year), as well as fishing on the Senegal River and near the sea coast (about 15 thousand t freshwater and 5 thousand t marine fish on average per year). Industry. The energy sector is represented by small thermal power plants in Nouakchott, Nouadhibou, Akjujt, Atar and others with a total capacity of 38 MW(1972). In 1971, 73 million were produced. kWh. In the mining industry, the leading role is played by the extraction of iron ore, which amounted (in million tons). t) 6.3 in 1965, 9.3 in 1972; in the Zuerat-Idzhil area (former Fort Guro), large deposits are being exploited - Fderik, Tazadit, Ruesa, development is carried out by the Miferma company, the government of M. owns only 5% of the shares, the rest - to Western European (French, English, West German and Italian) capital . The ore is exported by the Zouerate - Nouadhibou railway, and then through the specialized seaport of Consado (at 10 km south of Nouadhibou), mainly to France (20.6% in 1971), Great Britain (18.9%), Italy (12.9%), Belgium (14.6%), West Germany (12.8%) , Japan (11.7%). Since 1971, a copper ore deposit has been developed near the city of Akzhuzht by the Somima mixed company, which includes the state sector of M. (22% of all shares), South African capital (44.6%), French capital (18.4%), and others. In 1972, 14.9 thousand t copper concentrate. From the food industry greatest development received a modern fishing industry, its center is the city of Nouadhibou, where a fishing port has been built (work is underway to expand it) and fish processing plants operate, including a fish refrigeration plant with a capacity of 20 thousand t fish per year. Commercial fishing in the open ocean is growing rapidly and has reached 63,000 t in 1971. Building (1973) factories: sugar refinery, flour milling, and also cement. Transport. In 1963, the Zouerate - Nouadhibou railway (ore carrying) was put into operation (652 km). The length of roads and trails used year-round is about 3.2 thousand km. In 1972, the first paved road Roseau - Nouakchott - Akjoujt was built (over 560 km). Car park 11.8 thousand (1971). The main seaport is Nouadhibou, which, together with the port of Consado, accounts for almost the entire sea cargo turnover (over 9 million tons). t in 1973). Underway (1973) survey work for the construction of a deep-water port in Nouakchott. Airports of international importance in Nouakchott and Nouadhibou. International trade. In foreign trade (43.5 billion African francs in 1971), exports (26.1 billion African francs) significantly exceed imports (about 17.4 billion). The following are mainly exported: iron ore (more than 3/4 of the total value of exports), fish products, copper concentrate, gum arabic. Imported: tea, sugar and other foodstuffs, fabrics, industrial equipment, petroleum products, cement. The main trading partners are France (more than 25% of the total foreign trade turnover of Mexico in 1971), Great Britain, the USA, and Belgium. The monetary unit is the ouguiya (since 1973), equal to 5 African francs and 10 French centimes. G. N. Utkin. Military establishment(about 2.5 thousand people in 1971), consist of the ground forces (about 1.4 thousand), the Air Force (about 100 people), the Navy (about 50 people) and the gendarmerie (about 1 thousand people). The supreme commander in chief is the president. The general leadership of the army is carried out by the Minister of Defense and the General Staff. The army is completed by recruiting volunteers. The draft age is 18 years, the term of active military service is 2 years. A. S. Khromov. Education. Prior to the arrival of the French colonizers, there were many religious educational institutions of various levels of education on the territory of Mexico. During the colonial period, their number greatly decreased. Over 95% of the adult population is illiterate. The education system is built on the French model. elementary School, where children aged 6 years and older are accepted - 6-year-old, includes three 2-year cycles: preparatory, elementary and secondary. Secondary school - 7 years, consists of 2 stages (4 + 3 years of study). The children of nomads mainly study in Koranic schools. Primary education about 12% of children of the corresponding age are enrolled (in the 1971 academic year, 28,000 students, of which about 28% are girls). In the 1971 academic year, 3,400 students received secondary education. Higher religious education is provided by the National Institute of Islamic Studies in Butilimit (founded in 1961; 270 students in 1970); there are no other higher educational institutions; about 150 students from M. study in the universities of France, Senegal, and other countries. In Nouakchott are Central public library, National Administrative and Historical Library; there are several small libraries of Arabic religious literature in Butilimit, Chinguetti, Kaedi, etc. V. P. Borisenkov. Printing, broadcasting. Published in 1972 were Le Peuple, a weekly newspaper in French and Arabic, with a circulation of 1,500 copies, an organ of the PMN; Nouakchott-information, in French and Arabic, government newsletter; "Journal officiel" (Journal officiel), collection legislative framework and government regulations, in French; "Mariemou" ("Mariemou"), since 1968, in Arabic and French, illustrated magazine, published 1 time in 3 months. The national radio broadcasting of M. (government service) broadcasts in Arabic, French, and the languages of the Wolof, Sarakole, and Tukuler peoples. Architecture, applied and fine arts. Monuments of art dating back to the Neolithic belong to the culture of the ancient Negroid peoples and Berbers (rock paintings, stone tombs - "shushi"). In the Middle Ages, the Arab-Berber culture developed on the territory of M.. Since the 11th-12th centuries, rectangular in plan residential buildings with flat roofs and a courtyard and mosques with square minarets were built in cities from mud brick. In the west, buildings are decorated with patterned masonry (Tishit); in the east, the facades are plastered, and the doorways are framed with a red and white curvilinear ornament (Valata). In the 20th century, Nouakchott, Nouadhibou (Port-Etienne) are built up with modern buildings; many cities retain their medieval appearance. The folk art of M. is typical of items made of metal, leather, clay, and other items. Lit.: The latest history of Africa, 2nd ed., M., 1968; Gamier Ch., Ermout Ph., Desert fertile. Un nouvel état: la Mauritanie. P., 1960; Utkin G.N., Mauritania (text to the map 1:2500000), M., 1968; Gerteiny A. G., Mauritania, 2 ed., N. Y. - 1968; Pujos J., Croissance economique et impulsion extérieure. Etude sur l'économie mauritanienne, P., 1964; Jacques-Meunié, D., Cités anciennes de Mauritanie, P., 1961.
