Five-pointed star between the horns of a horizontal crescent moon; national colors: green, yellow.
Title | "Bilāda l-ʾubāti l-hudāti l-kirām" (Land of the Proud, Guided by Noblemen) |
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Lyric/music | unknown/traditional, Rageh DAOUD |
Date of Independence | 28 November 1960 (from France) |
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National holiday | Independence Day, 28 November (1960) |
Legal system | mixed legal system of Islamic and French civil law |
International law organization participation | has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt |
Constitution | |
History | Previous 1964; latest adopted 12 July 1991 |
Amendments | Proposed by the president of the republic or by Parliament; consideration of amendments by Parliament requires approval of at least one third of the membership; a referendum is held only if the amendment is approved by two-thirds majority vote; passage by referendum requires simple majority vote by eligible voters; passage of amendments proposed by the president can bypass a referendum if approved by at least three-fifths majority vote by Parliament; amended 2006, 2012, 2017 |
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) |
Head of government | Prime Minister Moctar Ould DIAY (since 2 August 2024) |
Cabinet | Council of Ministers - nominees suggested by the prime minister, appointed by the president |
Elections/appointments | president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 29 June 2024 (next to be held in June 2029); prime minister appointed by the president |
Election results | 2024: Mohamed Ould Cheikh el GHAZOUANI re-elected president in first round; percent of vote - Mohamed Ould Cheikh el GHAZOUANI (UPR) 56.1%, Biram Dah Ould ABEID (independent) 22.1%, Hamadi Sidi el MOKHTAR independent) 12.8%, other 9.0% 2019: Mohamed Ould Cheikh el GHAZOUANI elected president in first round; percent of vote - Mohamed Ould Cheikh el GHAZOUANI (UPR) 52%, Biram Dah Ould ABEID (independent) 18.6%, Sidi Mohamed Ould BOUBACAR (independent) 17.9%, other 11.5% |
Legislative branch | |
Description | Bicameral Parliament or Barlamane consists of: Senate or Majlis al-Shuyukh (56 seats, 53 members elected for a six-year term by municipal councilors, with one third renewed every two years) National Assembly or Al Jamiya Al Wataniya (176 seats statutory; 88 members filled from one or two seat constituencies elected by a two-round majority system and the other 88 members filled from a single, nationwide constituency directly elected by proportional representation vote); 20 seats are reserved for women candidates in the nationwide constituency, 11 seats are reserved for young candidates (aged between 25 and 35), and 4 members directly elected by the diaspora; all members serve 5-year terms |
Elections | Last held on 13 May 2023 with a second round on 27 May 2023 (next to be held in May 2028) |
Election results | National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - El Insaf 107, Tawassoul 11, UDP 10, FRUD 7, El Islah 6, AND 6, El Karama 5, Nida Al-Watan 5, Sawab 5, AJD/MR 4, HIWAR 3, HATEM 3, El Vadila 2, UPC 1, Hakam 1; composition- men 135, women 41, percentage women 23.3% |
Judicial branch | |
Highest court(s) | Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (subdivided into 7 chambers: 2 civil, 2 labor, 1 commercial, 1 administrative, and 1 criminal, each with a chamber president and 2 councilors); Constitutional Council (consists of 9 members); High Court of Justice (consists of 9 members) |
Judge selection and term of office | Supreme Court president appointed by the president of the republic to serve a 5-year renewable term; Constitutional Council members appointed - 3 by the president of the republic, 2 by the president of the National Assembly, 1 by the prime minister, 1 by the leader of the democratic opposition, 1 by the largest opposition party in the National Assembly, and 1 by the second largest party in the National Assembly; members serve single, 9-year terms with one-third of membership renewed every 3 years; High Court of Justice members appointed by Parliament - 6 by the ruling Coalition of Majority Parties and 3 by opposition parties |
Subordinate courts | Courts of Appeal; courts of first instance or wilya courts are established in the regions' headquarters and include commercial and labor courts, criminal courts, Moughataa (district) Courts, and informal/customary courts |
Diplomatic representation in the US | |
Chief of mission | Ambassador Cissé Mint Cheikh Ould BOIDE (since 15 September 2021) |
Chancery | 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 |
Telephone | [1] (202) 232-5700 |
FAX | [1] (202) 319-2623 |
Email address and website | [email protected] mauritaniaembassyus.org – Mauritania Embassy washington |
Diplomatic representation from the US | |
Chief of mission | Ambassador Cynthia KIERSCHT (since 27 January 2021) |
Embassy | Nouadhibou Road, Avenue Al Quds, NOT PRTZ, Nouakchott |
Mailing address | 2430 Nouakchott Place, Washington DC 20521-2430 |
Telephone | [222] 4525-2660 |
FAX | [222] 4525-1592 |
Email address and website | [email protected] https://mr.usembassy.gov/ |
National heritage | |
Total World Heritage Sites | 2 (1 cultural, 1 natural) |
Selected World Heritage Site locales | Ancient Ksour (Fortified Villages) of Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt, and Oualata (c); Banc d'Arguin National Park (n) |
Want to know more about Mauritania? Check all different factbooks for Mauritania below.