The Mauritania is a country of Africa. It is located on the north-western coast of the continent. It has a coast giving on the Atlantic Ocean; it is bordering on the Algérie and the the Western Sahara (mainly controlled by the Morocco since 1975) in north, on the Mali in the east, and on the Senegal in the south. Mauritania constitutes a point of passage between the North Africa and the Black Africa. It remains ethniquement dominated by the Moors, arabo-Berber people originating in the north of the continent.
The name comes from old a kingdom which extended on all North Africa, the Maurétanie. The capital is Nouakchott.
History
See also: History of Mauritania
The first inhabitants of Mauritania are the Soninkés
Policy
See also: Political of Mauritania
The country was directed by Maaouiya Ould Taya until the August 3rd 2005. Military career, he was chief of staff then Prime Minister (1981 - 1984) and Minister for defense. He chaired the Military committee of national hello which reverses Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla in 1984. In 1991, it proclaims a new constitution, founds the multi-party system and created the democratic and social Republican party. In 1992, it is elected president and is re-elected in 1997, in spite of strong disputes on the state of freedoms in the country.
The August 3rd 2005, the army, through the Military council for justice and the democracy, seizes the power for officially “putting an end to the totalitarian mode of president Taya and setting up true democratic institutions”. This putsch took place whereas the president was on the way of the return of Riyadh where it had assisted the day before with the funeral of the king Fahd of Saudi Arabia. After a course stay with the Niger and in Gambia, it took refuge ultimately with the Qatar where it obtained permanent residence.
The April 21st 2006, the Head of the State Ely Ould Mohamed Vall Mauritanian authorized the former president Maaouiya Ould Taya, in exile in Qatar, to return in its country, prohibiting to him however to take part in the elections envisaged within the framework of a democratic transition in progress until in 2007. The former president Maaouiya Ould Taya however did not regain Mauritania.
In accordance with her engagements formulated at the time of the catch to be able of August 2005, Ely Ould Mohamed Vall did not present himself to the presidential elections of March 2007. At the time of the first turn none continuing candidates not having obtained 50% of the votes, a second turn took place on March 25th, 2007.
The new president of Mauritania, Sidi Ould Sheik Abdallahi, lent oath on April 19th, 2007. It is the first president has to be elected democratically without massive fraud since the independence of Mauritania.
Subdivisions
See also: Subdivisions of Mauritania
Mauritania is divided into 12 wilayas, to which the district of the capital Nouakchott is added.
Geography
See also: Geography of Mauritania
Mauritania has borders with the Algérie, the the Western Sahara (asserted and controlled by the Morocco), the Mali and the Senegal. Those were traced by the French colonizers, which explains the uprightness of the lines
Mauritania is divided into four natural areas. Along the Atlantic coast a large sandy desert, the the Sahara extends. The central area is strewn with escarpés plates: in the east broad dune basins open. The Fleuve Senegal dug a valley along the southern border of the country. Mauritania is also crossed by the Karakoro. Its climate is extremely arid what explains its if weak density of population.
See also: Towns of Mauritania
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