Mauritania Travel Guide

Mauritania — Country and Tourist Information

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Country Facts

Location: West Africa.
Language: The official language is Arabic but French is widely spoken. The Moors of Arab/Berber stock, speaking Hassaniya dialects of Arabic, comprise the majority of the people. Other dialects include Soninke, Poular and Wolof. English is increasingly spoken.
Area: 1,030,700 sq km (397,950 sq miles).
Time Zone: GMT.
Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Round two-pin plugs are normal.
Population: 3.3 million (CIA estimate 2007).
Population Density: 3.2 per sq km.
Capital City: Nouakchott. Population: 600,000 (UN estimate 2003).
Government: Republic. Gained independence from France in 1960.
Head of State: President Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz since 2008.
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.

Recent History

A military council was formed following a bloodless coup in August 2005. The council, headed by Colonel Ely Ould Mohammed Vall, said it had acted to end a 'totalitarian' regime and promised to hold presidential elections within two years. It appointed veteran politician Sidy Mohamed Ould Boubacar as prime minister. Vall handed over to new president Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi following elections on 25 March 2007.

General Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz declared himself president of the Higher State Council in August 2008, after ousting President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi in a military coup.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: +222. Outgoing international calls must go through the operator.

Mobile Telephone

Roaming agreements exist with some international mobile phone operators. Coverage is limited to urban areas.

Internet

There are several Internet cafes in Nouakchott.

Media

Mauritania's TV and radio stations are state-owned. As such, coverage favors the government and opposition access to is limited. Newspapers are in French and Arabic. Under press law, newspapers can be banned for publishing material that is perceived to threaten national security or undermine Islam.

Post

International postal facilities are limited to main cities. Airmail to Europe takes approximately two weeks.

Press

•Chaab is a state-run daily, in Arabic.
•Horizon is a state-run daily, in French.
•Nouakchott-Info and Akhbar Nouakchott are private dailies.
• Weeklies include Le Calame, L'Eveil-Hebdo and Rajoul Echarée.

Radio

• Radio Mauritania.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
7 Dec Islamic New Year

2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
15 Feb Mouloud (Prophet’s Birthday)
1 May Labor Day
25 May African Liberation Day (Anniversary of the OAU’s Foundation)
10 Jul Armed Forces’ Day
31 Aug Korité (End of Ramadan)
7 Nov Tabaski (Feast of the Sacrifice)
26 Nov Islamic New Year
28 Nov Independence Day

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
4 Feb Mouloud (Prophet’s Birthday)
1 May Labor Day
25 May African Liberation Day (Anniversary of the OAU’s Foundation)
10 Jul Armed Forces’ Day
19 Aug Korité (End of Ramadan)
25 Oct Tabaski (Feast of the Sacrifice)
15 Nov Islamic New Year
28 Nov Independence Day
Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Korité (Eid al-Fitr), Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking. Some disruption may continue into Korité itself. Korité and Tabaski (Eid al-Adha) may last anything from two to 10 days, depending on the region.