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Country Guide > Africa > Mauritania | |
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General Information Area 1,030,700 sq km (397,950 sq miles). Population 2,807,000 (UN estimate 2004). Population Density 2.7 per sq km. Capital Nouakchott. Population: 611,883 (2001). Geography Mauritania is bordered by Algeria, Mali, Western Sahara (Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic) and Senegal. To the west lies the Atlantic Ocean. Mauritania consists mainly of the vast Saharan plain of sand and scrub. Most of this area is a sea of sand dunes, but in places the land rises to rocky plateaux with deep ravines leaving isolated peaks. The Adrar plateau in the central region rises to 500m (1640ft), and the Tagant further south to 600m (1970ft). The area is scattered with towns, small villages and oases. The northern bank of the Senegal River, which forms the country’s southern border, is the only area in the country with any degree of permanent vegetation and it supports a wide variety of wildlife. Government Republic. Gained independence from France in 1960. Head of State: President Maaouiya Ould Sid’Ahmed Taya since 1984. Head of Government: Prime Minister Sghair Ould M’Bareck since 2003. Language The official language is Arabic. The Moors of Arab/Berber stock, speaking Hassaniya dialects of Arabic, comprise the majority of the people. Other dialects include Soninke, Poular and Wolof. French and English are increasingly spoken. Religion Islam is the official religion. Despite ethnic and cultural differences among Mauritanians, they are all bound by a common Muslim attachment to the Malekite sect. Time GMT. Electricity 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Round two-pin plugs are normal. Communications Telephone IDD is available in Nouakchott and Nouadhibou. Country code: 222 (no area codes). Outgoing international calls must go through the operator. Mobile telephone GSM 900 network operaters include Mattel and Mauritel (website: www.mauritelmobiles.mr). Internet ISPs include Mauritel (website: www.mauritel.mr). Post International postal facilities are limited to main cities. Airmail to Europe takes approximately two weeks. Press Newspapers are in French and Arabic. The dailies are Châab and Nouakchott-Info. The main weeklies include Le Calame, L’Eveil-Hebdo and Rajoul Echarée. Radio BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online. |