Government and Politics of Mauritania

Government Type

republic

Administrative Divisions

12 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 capital district*; Adrar, Assaba, Brakna, Dakhlet Nouadhibou, Gorgol, Guidimaka, Hodh Ech Chargui, Hodh El Gharbi, Inchiri, Nouakchott*, Tagant, Tiris Zemmour, Trarza

Legal System

a combination of Shari'a (Islamic law) and French civil law

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Mauritania dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Executive Branch

chief of state: President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El GHAZOUANI (since 1 August 2019); elected in the June 2019 presidential election with approximately 52% of the vote in the first round, marking the first peaceful democratic transfer of power in Mauritania's history head of government: Prime Minister Mokhtar Ould DJAY (since 6 August 2024) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by absolute majority popular vote in two rounds if needed for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); last held on 29 June 2024; prime minister appointed by the president election results: President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El GHAZOUANI reelected in the first round with approximately 56.1% of the vote, defeating several challengers including opposition candidate Biram Dah ABEID who received around 22.1% of the vote

Legislative Branch

Unicameral Parliament or Al-Barlamane, which consists of the National Assembly or Al-Jamiya Al-Wataniya (176 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by a mixed majority and proportional representation vote; members serve five-year terms). Mauritania abolished its Senate in 2017 following a constitutional referendum, consolidating the legislature into a single chamber. The reform also eliminated regional councils, with their functions absorbed by the National Assembly. Elections: National Assembly — last held on 13 and 27 May 2023 (next to be held in 2028). Election results: National Assembly — percent of vote by party — El-Insaf (Union for the Republic) approximately 52%, Tewassoul (National Rally for Reform and Development) approximately 10%, other parties and independents approximately 38%; seats by party — El-Insaf 107, Tewassoul 11, El-Karama 10, Republican Front for Unity and Democracy 7, Rally of Democratic Forces 6, other parties and independents 35. The ruling El-Insaf party, aligned with President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, retained a strong majority in the assembly following the 2023 elections.

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Court of Appeals; lower courts

Political Parties

Action for Change or AC (no longer active) [Messoud Ould BOULKHEIR]; Alliance for Justice and Democracy or AJD [Cisse Amadou CHEIKHOU]; National Union for Democracy and Development or UNDD [Tidjane KOITA]; Party for Liberty, Equality, and Justice or PLEJ [Ba Mamdou ALASSANE]; Party of Democratic Convergence or PCD [Cheikh Ould HORMA]; Popular Front or FP [Ch'bih Ould CHEIKH MALAININE]; Popular Progressive Alliance or APP [Messoud Ould BOULKHEIR]; Progress Force Union or UFP (no longer active) [Mohamed Ould MAOULOUD]; Rally of Democratic Forces or RFD [Ahmed Ould DADDAH]; Rally for Democracy and Unity or RDU [Ahmed Ould SIDI BABA]; Republican Party for Democracy and Renewal or PRDR (formerly ruling Democratic and Social Republican Party or PRDS) [Boullah Ould MOGUEYA]; Right Way or SAWAB [Cheikh Ould Sidi Ould HANANA]; Union for Democracy and Progress or UDP [Naha Mint MOUKNASS]; Union of Forces of Progress or UFP [Mohamed Ould MAOULOUD] note: the Party of Democratic Convergence was banned in October 2005 because it was regarded as Islamist and therefore in breach of Mauritanian law

Head of State

President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El GHAZOUANI

Head of Government

Prime Minister Mokhtar Ould DJAY

Cabinet

Council of Ministers

Elections

National Assembly — last held on 13 and 27 May 2023 (next to be held in 2028).

Election Results

National Assembly — percent of vote by party — El-Insaf (Union for the Republic) approximately 52%, Tewassoul (National Rally for Reform and Development) approximately 10%, other parties and independents approximately 38%; seats by party — El-Insaf 107, Tewassoul 11, El-Karama 10, Republican Front for Unity and Democracy 7, Rally of Democratic Forces 6, other parties and independents 35. The ruling El-Insaf party, aligned with President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, secured a commanding majority in the 176-seat National Assembly following the May 2023 legislative elections. Ghazouani was subsequently re-elected to a second presidential term in June 2024, defeating candidates from both Islamist and secular opposition movements and marking the first democratic transfer of power between two elected presidents in Mauritania's history.

Constitution

12-Jul-91

Independence

28 November 1960 (from France)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 28 November (1960)

International Organization Participation

ABEDA, ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, CAEU, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAS, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador Tijani Ould KERIM chancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 232-5700, 5701 FAX: [1] (202) 319-2623

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph E. LEBARON embassy: 288 Rue Abdallaye (between Presidency building and Spanish Embassy), Nouakchott mailing address: BP 222, Nouakchott telephone: [222] 525-2660/525-2663 FAX: [222] 525-1592

Capital City

Nouakchott

Location

18 04 N, 15 58 W

Time Difference

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

may derive from the Berber "nawakshut" meaning "place of the winds"

Embassy Nouakchott Address: The U.S. Embassy is located between the Presidency building and the Spanish Embassy on Rue Abdallaye. The postal address is B.P. 222, Nouakchott, Mauritania. Telephone: (222) 4525-2660, 4525-2663, 4525-1145 or 4525-3288 Emergency after-hours telephone: (222) 3662-8163 Emergency Consular Recording (to relay messages during emergency situations): (222) 4525-3701 Facsimile: (222) 4525-1592

Military Branches

Mauritanian Armed Forces: Army, Mauritanian Navy (Marine Mauritanienne; includes naval infantry), Islamic Republic of Mauritania Air Group (Groupement Aerienne Islamique de Mauritanie, GAIM)

Service Age and Obligation

18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; no conscription