Country name
conventional long form : Islamic Republic of Mauritania
conventional short form: Mauritania
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah
local short form: Muritaniyah

Data code MR

Government type republic

National capital Nouakchott

Administrative divisions 12 regions (regions, singular - region); Adrar, Assaba, Brakna, DakhletNouadhibou, Gorgol, Guidimaka, Hodh ech Chargui, Hodh el Gharbi, Inchiri,Tagant, Tiris Zemmour, Trarza
note: there may be a new capital district of Nouakchott

Independence 28 November 1960 (from France)

National holiday Independence Day, 28 November (1960)

Constitution 12 July 1991

Legal system three-tier system: Islamic (Shari'a) courts, special courts, and statesecurity courts (in the process of being eliminated)

Suffrage 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
chief of state: President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA (since 12 December 1984)
head of government: Prime Minister Cheikh El Afia Ould Mohamed KHOUNA (since 2 January 1996)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election lastheld 17 January 1992 (next to be held NA January 1998); prime minister appointedby the president
election results: President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA reelected; percent of vote- NA

Legislative branch bicameral legislature consists of the Senate or Majlis al-Shuyukh (56seats; 17 up for election every two years; members elected by municipal leadersto serve six-year terms) and the National Assembly or Majlis al-Watani (79seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 12 April 1996 (next to be held NA 1998); NationalAssembly - last held 11 and 18 October 1996 (next to be held NA 2001)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRDS 16, UFD/NE1; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRDS71, AC 1, independents and other 7

Judicial branch Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Political parties and leaders legalized by constitution passed 12 July 1991, however, politics continueto be tribally based; emerging parties include Democratic and Social RepublicanParty (PRDS), led by President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed TAYA; Union ofDemocratic Forces-New Era (UFD/NE), headed by Ahmed Ould DADDAH; Assemblyfor Democracy and Unity (RDU), Ahmed Ould SIDI BABA; Popular Social and DemocraticUnion (UPSD), Mohamed Mahmoud Ould MAH; Mauritanian Party for Renewal (PMR),Hameida BOUCHRAYA; National Avant-Garde Party (PAN), Khattry Ould JIDDOU;Mauritanian Party of the Democratic Center (PCDM), Bamba Ould SIDI BADI; Actionfor Change (AC), Messoud Ould BOULKHEIR

Political pressure groups and leaders Mauritanian Workers Union (UTM)

International organization participation ABEDA, ACCT (associate), ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CAEU, CCC,ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU,OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Bilal Ould WERZEG
chancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 232-5700

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission : Ambassador Dorothy Myers SAMPAS
embassy: address NA, Nouakchott
mailing address: B. P. 222, Nouakchott
telephone: [222] (2) 526-60, 526-63
FAX: [222] (2) 515-92

Flag description green with a yellow five-pointed star above a yellow, horizontal crescent;the closed side of the crescent is down; the crescent, star, and color greenare traditional symbols of Islam

NOTE: The information regarding Mauritania on this page is re-published from the 1997 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Mauritania Government 1997 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Mauritania Government 1997 should be addressed to the CIA.