Region:
Western Africa
Capital:
Nouakchott
Population:
2 998 563 (July
2004 est.)
Surface
area:
1 025 520
Currency:
ouguiya
GDP
per capita:
$1 800 (2003
est.)
Background:
Mauritania
became independent
from France in
1960. In 1976
it annexed the
southern third
of the former
Spanish Sahara
(now Western
Sahara), but
relinquished
it after three
years of raids
by the Polisario
guerrilla front
who fought for
independence.
Opposition parties
were legalized
and a new constitution
approved in 1991.
Two multiparty
presidential
elections since
then were widely
seen as flawed,
but October 2001
legislative and
municipal elections
were generally
free and open.
Mauritania remains,
in reality, a
one-party state.
The country continues
to experience
ethnic tensions
between its black
population and
the dominant
Maur (Arab-Berber)
populace.
Economy
– overview:
Half
the population
still depends
on agriculture
and livestock
for a livelihood.
Mauritania has
extensive deposits
of iron ore,
which account
for nearly 40%
of total exports.
The decline in
world demand
for this ore,
however, has
led to cutbacks
in production.
The nation's
coastal waters
are among the
richest fishing
areas in the
world, but overexploitation
by foreigners
threatens this
key source of
revenue.
In
the past, drought
and economic
mismanagement
resulted in a
build-up of foreign
debt. In February
2000, Mauritania
qualified for
debt relief under
the Heavily Indebted
Poor Countries
(HIPC). In 2001,
exploratory oil
wells in tracts
80 km offshore
indicated potential
extraction at
current world
oil prices. The
government emphasizes
reduction of
poverty, improvement
of health and
education, and
promoting privatization
of the economy.
United
Nations Membership
date:
27 October 1961
New
York Mission:
Permanent Mission
of the Islamic
Republic of Mauritania
to the United
Nations, 116
East 38th Street,
New York, 10016
Telephone: 212-252-0113
/ 0141
Fax: 212-252-0175
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