Mauritania Religion and Languages

By | March 5, 2021

According to franciscogardening, Mauritania is a country located in the western region of the African continent, bordering Algeria, Mali, and Senegal. The total land area is 1,030,700 km2 and the population is approximately 4.3 million. The official language is Arabic although French is also widely spoken. Mauritania has a hot desert climate with temperatures ranging from 14-47°C throughout the year and very little rainfall. The country has been inhabited since prehistoric times, but it was not until the 11th century that it became part of an Islamic state. In 1903, France annexed Mauritania as part of its colonial empire and it remained under French control until its independence in 1960. Today, Mauritania is a predominantly Islamic country with a largely rural population relying heavily on agriculture for their livelihoods. Oil production also plays an important role in its economy as well as fishing and tourism.

Gradually, the progressive sector of the Mauritanian People’s Party (PPM) led by Moktar Ould Daddah began to develop the foundations that could create the country’s true independence. In 1965, the country opted out of OCAM (the Common African and Maghreb Organization), through which France sought to maintain control of its former colonies.

In 1966, SOMITEX was created, which monopolized the importation of consumer goods, thereby destroying the monopoly of the French traders. Arab culture was beginning to be appreciated and a customs function was set up so that the country became independent of Senegal. According to Countryaah, the Arab-Mauritanian Bank was given a monopoly on financial operations abroad, and for the first time a Mauritanian currency was issued.

Official Language of Mauritania

In 1974, the country’s iron mines were nationalized and the country reduced the influence of France in favor of a rapprochement with the Muslim countries and sought entry into the Arab League. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Morocco provided financial assistance to the country.

Due to its interest in annexing part of Western Sahara, Mauritania entered into an alliance with Morocco in 1975 to bring the Spanish colony under their control. With logistical and military support from France, 3,000 soldiers from Mauritania and 10,000 from Morocco occupied Western Sahara.

The government of Ould Daddah came to pay a high price for this adventure. The country was subject to fierce retaliatory action by the Liberation Front of Frente Polisario (see Western Sahara), and was almost occupied by the troops sent by Morocco to rescue his ally.

The economic crisis intensified and public discontent manifested in demonstrations and clashes with police. The Mauritanian people have many ethnic and cultural features in common with the people of Western Sahara, and the opposition therefore condemned the Mauritanian intervention against Western Sahara.

The crisis broke out fully in 1978, and over the following 6 years 5 coups took place. An attempt was made to Arabize the country in its entirety – without regard to the people of the southern part of the country.

The government eventually had to give up Arabization, at the same time waived its demands in Western Sahara and in 1979 signed a peace agreement with Frente Polisario. At the same time and with the support of a number of leftist officers, the government abolished slavery in the country.

In December 1984, Haidallah was overthrown by a coup by Maawiya Ould Sid ‘Ahmed Taya, Colonel and Chief of the Army General Staff. He officially recognized the Democratic Arab Republic of Sahara (Western Sahara) and cleaned up the underground economy – only 50% of the country’s businesses had registered accounts.

In April 1985, the IMF granted the country a $ 12 million loan, conditional on the implementation of a structural adjustment program that included extremely harsh conditions for a country suffering from continued desertification and a permanent food deficit of 12 million tonnes annually.

  • Follow abbreviationfinder to see what is the meaning of MR in geography. It can stand for Mauritania. Click this site to see other possible meanings of this acronym.

The geography of Mauritania is dominated by vast areas of desert, a hot and dry tropical climate with sparse rainfall. The economic and social situation was deteriorating; agricultural land and pastures in the south were still curtailed as the desert spread. The increasingly poor nomadic population was increasingly forced to search for cities.

Mauritania Population by Religion

Kaedi

Kaédi [French kae di], city in Mauritania, on Senegal (border with the Republic of Senegal), with (2013) 45,500 residents.

Administrative seat of the Vilayat Gorgol in the south of the country; arabic library; Trading center for hides, hides and gum arabic; Landing stage for Senegal shipping (during high tide, July – December); Airport.

Nouadhibou

Nouadhibou [Nuadi bu], to 1969 Port-Etienne [p ɔ ː r et jεn], seaport in Mauritania, on the east coast of the peninsula of Cape Blanc, (2013) 118,200 residents.

Administrative seat of the Wilajat of the same name; Seawater desalination plant, fishing and processing, petroleum refinery. 10 km south of Nouadhibou the ore port of Cansado, terminus of the ore railway from Zouérate; international Airport.

Nouakchott

Nouakchott [nwak ʃ ɔ t], capital of Mauritania, near the Atlantic coast of the Sahara located, (2013) 958 400 residents.

The city is the seat of a university and the national library.