Mauritania

Official name:

Islamic Republic of Mauritania

Name in local language:

الجمهورية الإسلامية الموريتانية

Form of government:

Republic

Political system:

Semi-presidential

Founding date/ Date of independence: 28 December 1960
Date of constitution/reform: 1991/1996, amended in 2012
Form of state: Unitary, under devolution or deconcentration process.
Administrative divisions: 12 wilayat (regions), 52 mugatat (provinces) and 1 capital district.
Official language(s): Arabic, and recognized as national languages: Arabic, Peul, Soninké and Wolof.
Other spoken languages: French
Status of religion: Islam (non denominational), official religion.
Minorities: Arab-Berbers form the majority, haratin (freed slaves and descendants) and Sub-Saharan ethnic groups are important minorities.
Dominant actor(s): Army
Elected institutions of government: presidency, government, two chambers of Parliament and local authorities.
Non-elected institutions of government: regional governors.
Party system: semi-competititve and fragmented. There are at least two main parties, the UPR (Union for the Republic) and islamist Tawassoul.

Current authorities

Head of state: Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, since August 2019, replacing Mohamed Ould Abdelazziz (2009-2019).
Head of government: Béchir Sidiya, since August 2019.
Minister of Foreign Affairs: Hamadi Ould Baba Ould Hamadi
Minister of Interior: Mohamed Ould Boilil
Head(s) of Legislative Branch: Messaoud Ould Bouljeir
Composition legislative branch: Link to PDF
Head of the Judiciary: Sghair Ould M'bareck (Constitutional Court)
Schematic representation of the political system: Link to PDF