Mauritania
Mauritania is a country in north-west Africa bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Western Sahara to the north and north-east, Algeria to the north-east, Mali to the east and south-east, and Senegal to the south-west. The capital is Nouakchott, which lies on the Atlantic coast and serves as the country's economic and administrative centre. With a population of about 4.5 million, Mauritania has a largely desert landscape dominated by the Sahara, which covers much of its territory. The economy is driven by mining, particularly iron ore and gold, fishing, and livestock herding. Mauritania is one of Africa's leading iron ore exporters, and the mining sector attracts significant foreign investment. The country is also emerging as a gold producer, with several international mining companies operating exploration and production projects. The currency is the ouguiya. Mauritania is a presidential republic and a member of the African Union and the Arab League, reflecting its position at the cultural crossroads between Arab North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. The country gained independence from France in 1960 and has since navigated periods of military rule, democratic transition, and ongoing efforts to diversify its resource-dependent economy.
Mauritania Updates
Moderna and other groups get $60m to develop Ebola vaccine
By: Reuters 1st June 2026 Global health organisation CEPI will give roughly $60-million to Moderna and to two other groups to accelerate the development of shots against... →
Congo, Rwanda head for showdown over Francophonie top job
By: Reuters 15th May 2026 Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda are heading for a diplomatic battle over the leadership of the International Organisation of La... →
100-million African children are not in school. What’s driving the trend and how to reverse it
14th May 2026 Many countries across Africa have embraced universal basic education policies in recent decades. But recent data has revealed that more than... →
Digital radicalisation in Senegal: early warning of an evolving terror threat
By: ISS, Institute for Security Studies 15th April 2026 As the risk of jihadist influence grows in southeastern Senegal, the digital dimension must be integrated into terrorism prevention strategies. On... →
Fuel prices surge in Africa as Iran war hits supply
By: Reuters 1st April 2026 African governments have imposed sharp fuel price increases as the Iran war sends global oil prices surging and threatens to spark inflation across... →
Development finance in Africa: economist explains how private savings could be unlocked
30th March 2026 Africa holds abundant private savings, but much of it remains informal. As a result, its contribution to development financing is limited.... →
Will the AES Unified Force succeed where the G5 Sahel failed?
By: ISS, Institute for Security Studies 5th March 2026 For Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger’s new force to succeed, relations with neighbouring countries need to be rebuilt. The Alliance of Sahel States’... →
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