Mauritanias history, in similar fashion to that of many other african countries, is one characterized by conflict. Mauritania summary the united states recognized the islamic republic of mauritania on november 28, 1960, in a congratulatory message from president dwight d. But if slavery is prohibited in mauritania, why does it persist. Mauritania, under its new government, immediately returned to the table to. Check out our country profile, full of essential information about mauritanias geography, history, government, economy, population, culture, religion and languages. Historical dictionary of mauritania historical dictionaries of africa anthony g. Infoplease has everything you need to know about mauritania. History of mauritania lonely planet travel information. Mauritania department of state background infoplease. Mauritanias government is under immense pressure from the forum of. Mauritania is a highly centralized islamic republic with a president as head of state and a constitution grounded in french civil law and sharia islamic law. The original inhabitants of mauritania were the bafour, presumably a mande ethnic group. The bidhan ethnic group dominates the mauritanian government, while afromauritanians and the haratin ethnic group are underrepresented in elected positions and in highlevel government roles.
Slavery has been outlawed four times in mauritanias history. The short answer is that there are no commercially published translations of books penned by writers from the country in either arabic, french, hassaniya arabic, pulaar. Aug 01, 2017 judicial branch of the government of mauritania the judiciary is the independent legal body of the mauritanian government. Its leader at independence was makhtar ould daddah, who in 1961 formed the mauritanian peoples party which in 1965 became the countrys only legal party and was the leading force in establishing a new constitution. Behind read the world the power of books and storytelling. Ministry of energy mauritania ministry of foreign affairs mauritania ministry of justice mauritania ministry of the interior and decentralization mauritania. To the north are the dark brown atlas mountains of morocco, to the west is the atlantic ocean, and to the south is the semiarid light brown sahelian region. Mauritania archives countries office of the historian. Researchers should contact the national archives and the nearest mauritanian embassy to inquire about the feasibility of their research. The supreme court consists of the criminal and civil chambers. Jun 08, 2018 the unspeakable truth about slavery in mauritania the haydel family in front of their tent next to their master sheikh ouled mhammeds house. The history of french colonial policy in mauritania is closely tied to that of the other french possessions in west africa, particularly to that of senegal, on which mauritania was economically, politically, and administratively dependent until independence. The independent republic of dahomey followed in 1960.
Mauritania relations were excellent, but underwent several transformations since mauritania gained independence. Opposing slavery in mauritania is exactly the same as opposing the government. In 1976, when mauritanian troops occupied the western sahara province of tiris al gharbiyya, as per terms of the madrid agreements, they were immediately challenged in fierce fighting with polisario guerrillas. A guide to the united states history of recognition, diplomatic, and consular relations, by country, since 1776. Their provisional government, based in algeria, wins recognition from some seventy nations. In the sahara region, however, a modern export economy is developing, based on the exploitation of iron ore and copper resources and of the rich fishing waters off the continental.
Outlines fundamental principles for the citizens of mauritania, the structure of the government in regards to its three branches, treaties and. Some flam members have been executed, resulting in demonstrations and violent clashes between supporters and opponents of the government. Many mauritanian slaves, isolated by illiteracy, poverty, and geography, do not recognize the possibility of a life outside servitude, and part of abeids mission is to make them aware. Discrimination hinders the ability of these groups to gain power. Slavery is the presidents business, his sisters business, his brothers. History from the 3rd century ad, the berbers established trading routes all over the western sahara, including mauritania. Introduction mauritania is a country in north africa and is bordered by the north atlantic ocean, algeria, mali, senegal, and western sahara. Barely five thousand people lived in nouakchott when mauritania was granted. Throughout mauritanias history, the interaction between the two cultures has been charged with social and political conflict that has defined and will continue to define mauritanian politics. For a more complete treatment of the country in its regional context, see western africa, history of. If there were a hall of fame for hardest countries in the world to find literature from in english, mauritania would be up there with the best of them. A quick search on the title took me to a download site.
The constitution of mauritania of 1991 defines all the three branches of government, which includes the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary. World publishers appeal for mercy for mauritanian deathrow blogger. The united states recognized the islamic republic of mauritania on november 28, 1960, in a congratulatory message from president dwight d. The country is making strides toward a stable democratic society and their culture is a wonderful amalgamation of regional and international influences which are noticeable in many aspects of daily life. At first the moroccan king refuses to acknowledge the existence of mauritania, claiming that it is historically linked to morocco it is the region from. A mauritanian abolitionists crusade against slavery the. In the 11th century, the marrakeshbased islamic almoravids pushed south and, with the assistance of mauritanian berber leaders, destroyed the empire of ghana, which covered much of presentday mauritania. Mauritania time line chronological timetable of events.
Maaouya ould sid ahmed taya seized power in a coup in 1984 and ruled mauritania with a heavy hand for over two decades. Historical dictionary of mauritania historical dictionaries of africa. In 1984, the mauritanian government was controlled by col. Even islam, to which virtually the entire population adhered after the ninth century, provided but a. History of mauritania news newspapers books scholar jstor june 2007 learn how and when to remove this template message.
Jul 25, 2016 the government gives property to the welltodo, not the people who work the fields. Links to websites of governmental institutions and political parties in mauritania. Still, the government has a history of instituting racist policies. The party of democratic convergence was banned in october 2005 because it was regarded as having breached mauritanian law. The largely desert composition of mauritania restricts human settlement. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our. Restored edition by mohamedou ould slahi, deep in the sahara by kelly cunnane, the desert and the drum by. Mauritanias hidden manuscripts world news the guardian. Oct 23, 2008 historical dictionary of mauritania historical dictionaries of africa pazzanita, anthony g.
To remedy this situation the government is planning a big event. Historical dictionary of mauritania historical dictionaries of africa pazzanita, anthony g. The government gives property to the welltodo, not the people who work the fields. Mauritania is divided into the city of nouakchott and 12 regions, each with a governor and a commission. Even islam, to which virtually the entire population adhered after the ninth century, provided but a veneer of unity. As politicians they declare, in 1976, that they are the government inexile of a new independent state, the saharan arab democratic republic. Within the constitution, the president is the head of state while the prime minister is the head of government. You can both see the desert and feel its presence in nouakchott, the capital of mauritania, which goes months at a time without rain.
The parti republicain democratique et social prds, led by president maaouya ould sidahmed taya, has dominated mauritanian politics since the countrys first multiparty elections in april 1992 following the approval by referendum of the current constitution in july 1991. Order from chaos how mauritania exports religion to saudi arabiaand not just the other way around michael farquhar and alex thurston thursday, december, 2018. Historical dictionary of mauritania historical dictionaries. Mauritanian slave trade can be traced back nearly 2,000 years. The unspeakable truth about slavery in mauritania global. The unspeakable truth about slavery in mauritania the haydel family in front of their tent next to their master sheikh ouled mhammeds house. The french policy of assimilation and direct rule, however, was never applied with any vigor in mauritania, where a system that. In the sahara region, however, a modern export economy is developing, based on the exploitation of iron ore and copper resources and of the rich fishing waters off the continental shelf. The judiciary is composed of several courts with the supreme court being the highest. If thats not enough, click over to our collection of world maps and flags. Ethnic politics and the relocation of ghana, benin, and.
The bonedry wood creaks as the book opens at a page representing the. Mauritanias contributions to the prehistory of western africa are still being researched, but the discovery of numerous lower paleolithic acheulean and neolithic remains in the. Independent from france in 1960, mauritania annexed the southern third of the former spanish sahara now western sahara in 1976, but relinquished it after three years of raids by the polisario guerrilla front seeking independence for the territory. Outlines fundamental principles for the citizens of mauritania, the structure of the government in regards to its three branches, treaties and international accords, and territorial districts.
Mauritanias contributions to the prehistory of western africa are still being researched, but the discovery of numerous lower paleolithic acheulean and neolithic. List of all countries in the world wide diplomatic archives index. Council for justice and democracy seized power and appointed a transitional government, promising to return the country to democracy by 2007. After a marxist coup toppled the government in 1972, the countrys new leaders wanted a clean break from the past, and in 1975 they renamed the state the peoples republic of benin. As guerrillas, supported by algeria and libya, they harass the moroccans and mauritanians. In the sahel region of mauritania, a traditional subsistence economy composed of livestock raising, agriculture, crafts, and petty trading supports most of the population. A remarkably clear satellite image of northwestern africa vividly displays the extent of the sahara. The group has been accused of trying to overthrow the mauritanian government. Dec 12, 2012 if there were a hall of fame for hardest countries in the world to find literature from in english, mauritania would be up there with the best of them. However, the most famous name in modern mauritanian history is that of. This discussion focuses on the history of mauritania since european contact. In 1987, black officers were purged from the army and the police force. Each chamber consists of a president assisted by five counselors. Mauritania history, early history, sudanic empires.
Restored edition by mohamedou ould slahi, deep in the sahara by kelly cunna. At the crossroads of the arab north and subsaharan africa, mauritania is a vast but sparsely populated country of some 3 million inhabitants whose capital nouakchott. The foremost problem confronting mauritania, on becoming independent in 1960 after the dissolution of french west africa, is its relationship with its more powerful northern neighbour, morocco. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about mauritania government 2020 should be addressed to the cia or the source cited on each page. He relaxed islamic law, fought corruption, instituted economic reforms urged by the international money, and command the countrys 1st multiparty parliamentary elections in 1986. Head of government includes the name, title of the top executive designated to manage the executive branch of the government, a. Between 1975 and 1977, the governments expenditures increased by 64 percent.
Arab slave traders in western africa began capturing darkerskinned men and women from subsaharan africa and forcing them into unpaid labor as early as the year 200. Mauritanian lawmaker, mohammed al mukhtar, announced that many of the countrys people were supporting the takeover attempt and the government is an authoritarian regime and that the president had marginalized the majority in parliament. After the fall of the communist government in 1990, the official name was shortened to the republic of benin. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of mauritania government 2020 information contained here. How mauritania exports religion to saudi arabiaand not. This is an illegal antigovernment organization based south of mauritania, in senegal. While studying his phd at kent state university in the us, the mauritanian fulbright scholar has vowed to write, selfpublish and make available for free download one novel each summer. Mauritania officially the islamic republic of mauritania arabic. The organization has said that the mauritanian government has practiced institutionalized and continuous use of torture throughout its postindependence history, under all its leaders. Africa mauritania the world factbook central intelligence. Arab invasions, government, economy, people sampson jerry on. The people were blacks, and forming huntergatherer communities and. His first book, angels of mauritania and the curse of the language, came out in 2011.
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