Portal:Mauritania

The Mauritania Portal - بوابة موريتانيا

Flag of Mauritania Seal of Mauritania

Mauritania, officially and also known as the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, is a country in the Maghreb region of West Africa. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Western Sahara to the north and northwest, Algeria to the northeast, Mali to the east and southeast, and Senegal to the southwest. By land area Mauritania is the 11th-largest country in Africa and the 28th-largest in the world; 90% of its territory is in the Sahara desert. Most of its population of 4.3 million live in the temperate south of the country; roughly a third of the population is concentrated in the capital and largest city, Nouakchott, on the Atlantic coast.

The country's name derives from Mauretania, the Latin name for a region, to the north, in the ancient Mediterranean Maghreb. Mauretania extended from central present-day northern Algeria to the Atlantic, in Morocco. Berbers occupied what is now Mauritania by the beginning of the 3rd century CE. Groups of Arab tribes migrated to this area in the late 7th century, bringing with them Islam, Arab culture, and the Arabic language. In the early 20th century, Mauritania was colonized by France as part of French West Africa. It achieved independence in 1960. The country has since experienced recurrent coups and periods of military dictatorship. The 2008 Mauritanian coup d'état was led by General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, who won subsequent presidential elections in 2009 and 2014. He was succeeded by General Mohamed Ould Ghazouani following the 2019 elections, in what was considered the country's first peaceful transition of power since independence. Mauritania has a poor human rights record, particularly because of its perpetuation of slavery; the 2018 Global Slavery Index estimates there are about 90,000 slaves in the country (or 2.1% of the population).

Despite an abundance of natural resources, Mauritania remains poor; its economy is based primarily on agriculture and fishing. Mauritania is culturally and politically part of the Arab world as a member of the Arab League. Arabic is the official language, while Pulaar, Soninke and Wolof are recognized as national languages. The state religion is Islam, and almost all inhabitants are Sunni Muslims. Despite its prevailing Arab identity, Mauritanian society is multiethnic. The Haratin, comprise 40% of the population while the Bidhan make up 30% of the population. The remaining 30% of Mauritania’s population comprises various sub-Saharan ethnic groups. (Full article...)

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Amar Godomat (né. Ama Kodu Juuf in Serer, also known as Xamakodu Fa Maak (meaning Hamacodou The Elder, in Serer), or Amar Gôdômat, Ama Kodu Joof in Gambian English, or Ama Codou Diouf in Senegalese French)) is the name given in oral tradition to an 11th-century Serer archer.

Serer oral tradition relays that, a Serer bowman named Amar Godomat killed the 11th century Almoravid leader Abu Bakr ibn Umar in battle, with his bow near lake Rzik (just north of the Senegal) (Godomat's name apparently originates with this death). The battle is reported to have taken place near Khoo Maak in Serer country, commonly known as Lake Cayor. One source discussing this oral tradition says that "almoravid Abu Bakar Ben Umar was killed by the arrow of serer warrior Amar Godomat, in the month of shaa'ban 480 (November 1087). This regicide potentially signals his exodus after taking the name "Amar god o maat", "Amar (which) killed (the) king"."

Mauritanian oral tradition claims Abu Bakr was killed in a clash with the "Gangara" (Soninke Wangara) of the Tagant Region of southern Mauritania, relating that he was struck down by an arrow from an old, blind Gangara chieftain in the pass of Khma (between the Tagant and Assab mountains, en route to Ghana).

Another source for Abu Bakr's death says "In the region of Tagant on his way to Djabal al-Dbahab, the Mountain of Gold, he was wounded, according to the chronicles, by a poisoned arrow, shot by an old black bowman who could not see unless his eye-lids were raised up to uncover his eyeballs. The black bowman asked his daughter to hold open his eyes so that he could aim his arrow. It struck the Amir in the knee. Abu Bakr turned his horse around and rode off..." dying when he arrived in Tagant. (Full article...)

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Malouma performing in 2004

Malouma Mint El Mokhtar Ould El Meidah (Arabic: المعلومة منت المخطار ولد الميداح), also simply Maalouma or Malouma ( /mɑːloʊmɑː/; born October 1, 1960), is a Mauritanian singer, songwriter and politician. Raised in the south-west of the country by parents versed in traditional Mauritanian music, she first performed when she was twelve, soon featuring in solo concerts. Her first song "Habibi Habeytou" harshly criticized the way in which women were treated by their husbands. Though an immediate success, it caused an outcry from the traditional ruling classes.

After being forced into marriage while still a teenager, Malouma had to give up singing until 1986. She developed her own style combining traditional music with blues, jazz, and electro. Appearing on television with songs addressing highly controversial topics such as conjugal life, poverty and inequality, she was censored in Mauritania in the early 1990s but began to perform abroad by the end of the decade. After the ban was finally lifted, she relaunched her singing and recording career, gaining popularity, particularly among the younger generation. Her fourth album, Knou (2014), includes lyrics expressing her views on human rights and women's place in society. (Full article...)

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General images -

The following are images from various Mauritania-related articles on Wikipedia.

Image 1Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi (from Mauritania)
Image 2Terjit oasis in the Adrar Region (from Mauritania)
Image 3The Portuguese Empire ruled Arguin (Portuguese: Arguim) from 1445, after Prince Henry the Navigator set up a feitoria, until 1633. (from Mauritania)
Image 4A family in the Adrar Plateau. (from Mauritania)
Image 5Saudi Mosque in Nouakchott (from Mauritania)
Image 6Sandy area west of Chinguetti (from Mauritania)
Image 72011–2012 Mauritanian protests. (from Mauritania)
Image 8Semi-desert in Mauritania (from Mauritania)
Image 9Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz in his hometown, Akjoujt, on 15 March 2009. (from Mauritania)
Image 10After the Portuguese, the Dutch, and then the French, took control of Arguin until abandoning it in 1685. (from Mauritania)
Image 11Nouakchott is the capital and largest city of Mauritania. It is one of the largest cities in the Sahara. (from Mauritania)
Image 12Camel market in Nouakchott (from Mauritania)
Image 13French West Africa, circa 1913. (from History of Mauritania)
Image 14Mauritania's President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani with US President Donald Trump, 9 July 2025 (from Mauritania)
Image 15Rock art in the Sahara Desert (from Mauritania)
Image 16Qur'an collection in a library in Chinguetti (from Mauritania)
Image 17Mauritanian blogger and political prisoner Mohamed Cheikh Ould Mkhaitir. (from Mauritania)
Image 18Chinguetti was a center of Islamic scholarship in West Africa. (from Mauritania)

Related portals

Religions in Mauritania

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WikiProjects

You are invited to participate in WikiProject Mauritania, a WikiProject dedicated to developing and improving articles about Mauritania.

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Topics in Mauritania

Cities and towns

Largest cities or towns in Mauritania National Agency for Statistics, Demographic and Economic Analysis (2023 census)
Rank	Name	Region	Pop.	Rank	Name	Region	Pop.
1	Nouakchott	Nouakchott	1,446,761	11	Adel Bagrou	Hodh Ech Chargui	37,048
2	Nouadhibou	Dakhlet Nouadhibou	173,525	12	Aïoun el Atrous	Hodh El Gharbi	36,517
3	Kiffa	Assaba	84,101	13	Hamed	Assaba	36,448
4	Vassala	Hodh Ech Chargui	79,508	14	Tintane	Hodh El Gharbi	35,995
5	Kaédi	Gorgol	62,790	15	Atar	Adrar	35,171
6	Zouérat	Tiris Zemmour	62,380	16	Néma	Hodh Ech Chargui	35,042
7	Rosso	Trarza	61,156	17	Gouraye	Guidimagha	35,021
8	Boghé	Brakna	50,205	18	Timbédra	Hodh Ech Chargui	34,244
9	Sélibaby	Guidimagha	44,966	19	Voum Legleita	Gorgol	33,314
10	Guerou	Assaba	40,315	20	Boutilimit	Trarza	32,347