Mauritania

a republic in NW Africa, on the Atlantic: established as a French protectorate in 1903 and a colony in 1920; gained independence in 1960; lies in the Sahara; contains rich resources of iron ore. Official language: Arabic; Fulani, Soninke, Wolof, and French are also spoken. Official religion: Muslim. Currency: ouguiya. Capital: Nouakchott. Pop.: 2 980 000 (2004 est.). Area: 1 030 700 sq. km (398 000 sq. miles)

Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

Mauritania

Official name: Islamic Republic of Mauritania

Capital city: Nouakchott

Internet country code: .mr

Flag description: Green with a yellow five-pointed star above a yellow horizontal crescent; the closed side of the crescent is down; the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam

National anthem: lyrics taken from poem by Baba Ould Cheikh

Geographical description: Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara

Total area: 419,212 sq. mi. (1,030,070 sq. km.)

Climate: Desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty

Nationality: noun: Mauritanian(s); adjective: Mauritanian

Population: 3,270,065 (July 2007 CIA est.)

Ethnic groups: Arab-Berber (White Moor), Arab-Berber-Negroid (Black Moor), Haalpulaar, Soninke, Wolof (Black African Mauritanians)

Languages spoken: Arabic (official), Hassaniya (Arabic dialect), French, Pulaar, Wolof, and Soninke

Religions: Muslim 100%

Legal Holidays:

Independence Day	Nov 28
Journee de l'OUA	May 25
Labor Day	May 1
New Year's Day	Jan 1

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References in periodicals archive

Some 1.5 million people were eligible to vote on Saturday in Mauritania, a country of fewer than five million people covered largely by the Western Sahara Desert.

Iran Eyeing Closer Relations with Mauritania

Mauritania kept pressing forward and were rewarded with a penalty which El Hacen El Id converted, prompting delirious celebrations amid the players and officials.

Debutants Mauritania given harsh 4-1 lesson by Mali

Mauritania's Foreign Minister expressed his pleasure at the opportunity to meet HRH the Crown Prince.

On behalf of HM the King, HRH Crown Prince receives a letter from the President of Mauritania: 04 March 2019

Mauritania was one of the first countries in the region to leverage partner capacity-building programs offered by U.S.

The Renewed Jihadi Terror Threat to Mauritania

The AMF has made a total of 20 loans with a total value estimated at $420 million to Mauritania while funds provided by the Arab Trade Financing Programme, credit facilities to finance Mauritania's foreign trade, total $75 million.

Arab Monetary Fund lends $51 million to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania

The overall projects of 27MW in Nouakchott including the seven remote cities target 50 per cent of Mauritania's population.

SOLAR PROJECTS BOON FOR MAURITANIA

condemned Mauritania's 2005 and 2008 military coups.

U.S. relations with Mauritania

Summary: The projects are Masdar's second initiative in Mauritania, and focuses on clean energy generation and distribution in remote areas.

UAE solar projects boon for Mauritania

Masdar is to make its second foray into the solar power sector in the West African nation of Mauritania.

Masdar pens second Mauritania solar deal

Abu Dhabi's renewable energy company Masdar has signed a contract with Mauritania's Ministry of Petroleum, Energy, and Mines, to deliver seven solar photovoltaic (PV) projects, with a total capacity of 12 megawatts by the first quarter of 2016.

Masdar to build solar power plants in Mauritania

Mauritania has been in the news lately over the hot-button issue of slavery.

Slow but steady walk to democracy

Mauritania and Cote d'Ivoire have signed five cooperation agreements, in the culmination of the visit to Nouakchott by Ivorian Foreign Minister Charles Koffi Diby, PANA reported Monday.

Mauritania: Mauritania, Cote d'Ivoire sign 5 cooperation pacts