Mauritania Country & Tourist Information

Location
West Africa.

Area
1,030,700 sq km (397,950 sq miles).

Population
2.8 million (UN estimate 2004).

Population Density
2.7 per sq km.

Capital
Nouakchott.
Population: 611,883 (2001).

Government
Republic. Gained independence from France in 1960. 

Language
The official language is Arabic. The Moors of Arab/Berber stock, speaking Hassaniya dialects of Arabic, comprise the majority of the people. Other dialects include Soninke, Poular and Wolof. French and English are increasingly spoken.

Religion
Islam is the official religion. Despite ethnic and cultural differences among Mauritanians, they are all bound by a common Muslim attachment to the Malekite sect.

Time
GMT.

Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz. Round two-pin plugs are normal.

Head of Government
Prime Minister Sidy Mohamed Ould Boubacar since 2005.

Head of State
Military Leader Ely Ould Mohammed Vall since 2005. Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi will shortly take over as president following his win in elections on 25 March 2007. 

Telephone
Country code: 222 (no area codes). Outgoing international calls must go through the operator.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with some international mobile phone operators. Coverage is limited to urban areas.

Internet
There are several Internet cafes in Nouakchott.

Media
Mauritania’s TV and radio stations are state owned. Newspapers are in French and Arabic.

Post
International postal facilities are limited to main cities. Airmail to Europe takes approximately two weeks.

Press
• The dailies are Châab and Nouakchott-Info.
• The main weeklies include Le Calame, L’Eveil-Hebdo and Rajoul Echarée.

Radio
• Radio Mauritania.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2007-December 2008 period.

2007
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
20 Jan Islamic New Year.
31 Mar Mouloud (Prophet’s Birthday).
1 May Labor Day.
25 May African Liberation Day (Anniversary of the OAU’s Foundation).
10 Jul Armed Forces’ Day.
13 Oct Korité (End of Ramadan).
28 Nov Independence Day.
20 Dec Tabaski (Feast of the Sacrifice).

2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day. 
10 Jan Islamic New Year. 
20 Mar Mouloud (Prophet’s Birthday).
1 May Labor Day.
25 May African Liberation Day (Anniversary of the OAU’s Foundation).
10 Jul Armed Forces’ Day. 
2 Oct Korité (End of Ramadan).
28 Nov Independence Day. 
9 Dec Tabaski (Feast of the Sacrifice).
29 Dec Islamic New Year.

Note
Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Korité (Eid al-Fitr), Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking. Some disruption may continue into Korité itself. Korité and Tabaski (Eid al-Adha) may last anything from two to 10 days, depending on the region.

Contact Information:

Office National du Tourisme
BP 246, Nouakchott, Mauritania
Tel: 525 3572.

Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania in the UK
8 Carlos Place, Mayfair, London W1K 3AS, UK
Tel: (020) 7478 9323.
E-mail: ambarim@aol.com
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 0900-1500, Fri 0900-1300.

Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania in the USA
2129 Leroy Place, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 232 5700.
Website: www.mauritania-usa.org


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