1989 Edition

Administrative divisions

1 2 regions (regions, singular — region); Adrar, Brakna, Dakhlet Nouadhibou, El 'Acaba, Gorgol, Guidimaka, Hodh Ech Chargui, Hodh El Gharbi, Inchiri, Tagant, Tiris Zemmour, Trarza; note — there may be a new capital district of Nouakchott

Capital

Nouakchott

Climate

desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty

tropical modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter (May to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May)

Coastline

754 km

177 km

Communists

no Communist party, but there is a scattering of Maoist sympathizers

Comparative area

slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico

slightly less than 10.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Constitution

20 May 1961, abrogated after coup of 10 July 1978; provisional constitution published 17 December 1980 but abandoned in 1981; new constitutional charter published 27 February 1985

Continental shelf

edge of continental margin or 200 nm

edge of continental margin or 200 nm

Diplomatic representation

Ambassador Abdellah OULD DADDAH; Chancery at 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 232-5700; US— Ambassador William H. TWADDELL; Embassy at address NA, Nouakchott (mailing address is B. P. 222, Nouakchott); telephone [2222] 52660 or

Disputes

armed conflict in Western Sahara; boundary with Senegal

claims Chagos Archipelago, which includes the island of Diego Garcia in UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory; claims French-administered Tromelin Island

Elections

none; last presidential election August 1976; National Assembly dissolved 10 July 1978; no national elections are scheduled

Environment

hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and April; desertification; only perennial river is the Senegal

subject to cyclones (November to April); almost completely surrounded by reefs

Executive branch

president, Military Committee for National Salvation (CMSN), Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Extended economic zone

200 nm

200 nm

Flag

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

Independence

28 November 1960 (from France)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Land boundaries

5,074 km total; Algeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km, Senegal 813 km, Western Sahara 1,561 km

none

Land use

1% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 38% meadows and pastures; 5% forest and woodland; 56% other; includes NEGL% irrigated

54% arable land; 4% permanent crops; 4% meadows and pastures; 31% forest and woodland; 7% other; includes 9% irrigated

Leaders

Chief of State and Head of Government— President Col. Maaouiya Ould Sid'Ahmed TAYA (since 12 December 1984) Political parties and leaders: suspended

Legal system

based on Islamic law

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale), dissolved after 10 July 1978 coup; legislative power resides with the CMSN

Member of

ACP, AfDB, AIOEC, Arab League, CCC, CEAO, C1PEC (associate), EAMA, EIB (associate), FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB— Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, 1PU, ITU, NAM, OAU, QIC, OMVS (Organization for the Development of the Senegal River Valley), UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

National holiday

Independence Day, 28 November (1960)

Natural resources

iron ore, gypsum, fish, copper, phosphate

arable land, fish

Note

located 900 km east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean

Suffrage

none

Terrain

mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills

small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encircling central plateau

Territorial sea

1 2 nm

1 2 nm

Total area

1,030,700 km2; land area: 1 ,030,400 km2

1,860 km2; land area: 1,850 km2; includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (St. Brandon) and Rodrigues

Type

republic; military first seized power in bloodless coup 10 July 1978; a palace coup that took place on 24 December 1984 brought President Taya to power

Birth rate

49 births/ 1 ,000 population (1990)

21 births/ 1,000 population (1990)

Death rate

1 8 deaths/ 1 ,000 population (1990)

6 deaths/ 1, 000 population (1990)

Ethnic divisions

40% mixed Maur/black, 30% Maur, 30% black

68% I ndoMauritian, 27% Creole, 3% SinoMauritian, 2% Franco-Mauritian

Infant mortality rate

96 deaths/ 1,000 live births (1990)

20 deaths/ 1,000 live births (1990)

Labor force

465,000 (1981 est.); 45,000 wage earners (1980); 47% agriculture, 29% services, 14% industry and commerce, 10% government; 53% of population of working age (1985)

335,000; 29% government services, 27% agriculture and fishing, 22% manufacturing, 22% other; 43% of population of working age (1985)

Language

Hasaniya Arabic (national); French (official); Toucouleur, Fula, Sarakole, Wolof

English (official), Creole, French, Hindi, Urdu, Hakka, Bojpoori

Life expectancy at birth

44 years male, 49 years female (1990)

66 years male, 73 years female (1990)

Literacy

17%

82.8%

Nationality

noun — Mauritanian(s); adjective— Mauritanian

noun — Mauritian(s); adjective— Mauritian

Net migration rate

0 migrants/ 1,000 population (1990)

4 migrants/ 1,000 population (1990)

Organized labor

30,000 members claimed by single union, Mauritanian Workers' Union

35% of labor force in more than 270 unions

Population

1,934,549 (July 1990), growth rate 3.1% (1990)

1,070,005 (July 1990), growth rate 1.8% (1990)

Religion

nearly 100% Muslim

51% Hindu, 30% Christian (mostly Roman Catholic with a few Anglicans), 17% Muslim, 2% other

Total fertility rate

7.3 children born/ woman (1990)

2.0 children born/ woman (1990)

Administrative divisions

5 urban councils and 3 district councils*; Beau Bassin-Rose Hill, Curepipe, Moka-Flacq*, North*, Port Louis, Quatre Bornes, South*, Vacoas-Phoenix; note — there may now be 4 urban councils and 9 district councils* named Beau Bassin-Rose Hill, Black River*, Curepipe, Flacq*, Grand Port*, Moka*, Pamplemousses*, Plaine Wilhems*, Port Louis*, Quartre Bornes, Riviere du Rempart*, Savanne*, and Vacoas-Phoenix

Capital

Port Louis

Communists

may be 2,000 sympathizers; several Communist organizations; Mauritius Lenin Youth Organization, Mauritius Women's Committee, Mauritius Communist Party, Mauritius People's Progressive Party, Mauritius Young Communist League, Mauritius Liberation Front, Chinese Middle School Friendly Association, Mauritius/USSR Friendship Society

Constitution

12 March 1968

Diplomatic representation

Ambassador Chitmansing JESSERAMSING; Chancery at Suite 134, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 244-1491 or 1492; US— Ambassador Penne KORTH; Embassy at 4th Floor, Rogers Building, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis; telephone 082347

Elections

Legislative Assembly — last held on 30 August 1987 (next to be held 30 August 1 992); results — percent of vote by party NA; seats — (70 total, 62 elected) MSM 24, MMM 21, MLP 10, PMSD 5, others 10

Executive branch

British monarch, governor general, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Flag

four equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, yellow, and green

Independence

12 March 1968 (from UK)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Leaders

Chief of State — Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Veerasamy RINGADOO (since 17 January 1986); Head of Government — Prime Minister Anerood JUGNAUTH (since 12 June 1982); Deputy Prime Minister Sir Satcam BOOLELL (since 15 August 1988) Political parties and leaders: the government is currently controlled by a coalition composed of the Militant Socialist Movement (MSM), A. Jugnauth, and the Mauritian Labor Party (MLP), S. Boolell; the main opposition union consists of the Mauritian Militant Movement (MMM), Prem Nababsing; Socialist Workers Front, Sylvio Michel; Democratic Labor Movement, Anil Baichoo; Mauritian Social Democratic Party (PMSD), G. Duval

Legal system

based on French civil law system with elements of English common law in certain areas

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislative Assembly

Long-form name

Islamic Republic of

none

Member of

ACP, AfDB, CCC, Commonwealth, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, ISO, ITU, IWC— International Wheat Council, NAM, OAU, OCAM, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

National holiday

Independence Day, 12 March (1968)

Other political or pressure groups

various labor unions

Suffrage

universal at age 18

Type

parliamentary democracy

Agriculture

accounts for 29% of GDP (including fishing); largely subsistence farming and nomadic cattle and sheep herding except in Senegal river valley; crops — dates, millet, sorghum, root crops; fish products number-one export; large food deficit in years of drought

accounts for 14% of GDP; about 90% of cultivated land in sugarcane; other products — tea, corn, potatoes, bananas, pulses, cattle, goats, fish; net food importer, especially rice and fish

Aid

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $160 million; Western (nonUS) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $1.1 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $490 million; Communist countries (1970-88), $277 million

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $72 million; Western (non-US) countries (1970-87), $538 million; Communist countries (1970-88), $54 million

Budget

revenues $358 million; expenditures $334 million, including capital expenditures of $79 million (1988 est.)

revenues $351 million; expenditures $414 million, including capital expenditures of $76 million (FY87 est.)

Currency

ouguiya (plural — ouguiya); 1 ouguiya (UM) = 5 khoums

Mauritian rupee (plural — rupees); 1 Mauritian rupee (MauR) = 100 cents

Electricity

189,000 kW capacity; 136 million kWh produced, 70 kWh per capita (1989)

233,000 kW capacity; 420 million kWh produced, 375 kWh per capita (1989)

Exchange rates

ouguiya (UM) per US$1— 83.838 (January 1990), 83.051 (1989), 75.261 (1988), 73.878 (1987), 74.375 (1986), 77.085 (1985)

Mauritian rupees (MauRs) per US$1— 15.033 (January 1990), 15.250(1989), 13.438(1988), 12.878(1987), 13.466(1986), 15.442 (1985)

Exports

$424 million (f.o.b., 1988); commodities— iron ore, processed fish, small amounts of gum arabic and gypsum, unrecorded but numerically significant cattle exports to Senegal; partners — EC 57%, Japan 39%, Ivory Coast 2%

$1.0 billion (f.o.b., 1988); commodities— textiles 44%, sugar 40%, light manufactures 1 0%; partners — EC and US have preferential treatment, EC 77%, US 15%

External debt

$2.3 billion (December 1989)

$670 million (December 1989)

Fiscal year

calendar year

1 July-30 June

GDP

$1.0 billion, per capita $520; real growth rate 3.6% (1988)

$1.9 billion, per capita $1,910; real growth rate 6.3% (1988)

Illicit drugs

illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade

Imports

$365 million (c.i.f., 1988); commodities— foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum products, capital goods; partners—EC 79%, Africa 5%, US 4%, Japan 2%

$1.3 billion (c.i.f., 1988); commodities— manufactured goods 50%, capital equipment 17%, foodstuffs 13%, petroleum products 8%, chemicals 7%; partners — EC, US, South Africa, Japan

Industrial production

growth rate 4.4% (1988 est.) Mauritania (continued) Mauritius

growth rate 12.9% (FY87)

Industries

fishing, fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum

food processing (largely sugar milling), textiles, wearing apparel, chemical and chemical products, metal products, transport equipment, nonelectrical machinery, tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1 .4% (1988 est.)

9.2% (1988)

Overview

A majority of the population still depends on agriculture and livestock for a livelihood, even though most of the nomads and many subsistence farmers were forced into the cities by recurrent drought in 1983. Mauritania has extensive deposits of iron ore that account for almost 50% of total exports. The decline in world demand for this ore, however, has led to cutbacks in production in recent years. The nation's coastal waters are among the richest fishing areas in the world, but overexploitation by foreigners threatens this key source of revenue. The country's first deepwater port opened near Nouakchott in 1986.

The economy is based on sugar, manufacturing (mainly textiles), and tourism. Despite significant expansion in other sectors over the past decade, sugarcane remains dominant and is grown on about 90% of the cultivated land area, accounting for 40% of export earnings. The government's development strategy is centered on industrialization (with a view to exports), agricultural diversification, and tourism. Economic performance in 1988 was impressive, with 6.3% real growth rate and low unemployment.

Unemployment rate

50% (1988 est.)

3.6% (1988)

Airports

30 total, 29 usable; 9 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 4 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 17 with runways 1,2202,439 m

5 total, 4 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m

Branches

Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary Gendarmerie, paramilitary National Guard, paramilitary National Police, paramilitary Presidential Guard, paramilitary Nomad Security Guards

paramilitary Special Mobile Force, Special Support Units, regular Police Force

Civil air

2 major transport aircraft

4 major transport aircraft

Defense expenditures

4.2% of GDP (1987) Agalega Islands. Cargados Carajos Shoals, and Rodngues are not shown Indian Ocean ,• Ooodlandl Set reflonil map VII

NA

Highways

7,525 km total; 1,685 km paved; 1,040 km gravel, crushed stone, or otherwise improved; 4,800 km unimproved roads, trails, tracks

1,800 km total; 1,640 km paved, 160 km earth

Inland waterways

mostly ferry traffic on the Senegal River

Merchant marine

1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,272 CRT/ 1,840 DWT

9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 143,029 CRT/ 248,754 DWT; includes 1 passenger-cargo, 3 cargo, 1 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 liquefied gas, 3 bulk

Military manpower

males 15-49, 410,153; 200,212 fit for military service; conscription law not implemented

males 15-49, 297,975; 153,130 fit for military service

Ports

Nouadhibou, Nouakchott

Port Louis

Railroads

670 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, single track, owned and operated by government mining company

Telecommunications

poor system of cable and open-wire lines, minor radio relay links, and radio communications stations; 5,200 telephones; stations — 2 AM, no FM, I TV; satellite earth stations — 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 2 ARABSAT, with a third planned Defense Forces

small system with good service; new microwave link to Reunion; high-frequency radio links to several countries; 48,000 telephones; stations — 2 AM, no FM, 4 TV; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station Defense Forces