Data code: MR
Government type: republic
Capital: Nouakchott?
Administrative divisions: 12 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 capital district*; Adrar?, Assaba?, Brakna?, [Dakhlet Nouadhibou]?, Gorgol?, Guidimaka?, [Hodh Ech Chargui]?, [Hodh El Gharbi]?, Inchiri?, Nouakchott?*, Tagant?, [Tiris Zemmour]?, Trarza?
Independence: 28 November 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 28 November (1960)
Constitution: 12 July 1991
Legal system: a combination of Shari'a? (Islamic law) and French civil law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Col. [Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA]? (since 12 December 1984)
head of government:
Prime Minister [Cheikel Afia Ould Mohamed KHOUNA]? (since 16 November 1998)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers
elections:
president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 12 December 1997 (next to be held NA December 2003); prime minister appointed by the president
election results:
President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA reelected with 90.9% of the vote
Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature consists of the Senate or Majlis al-Shuyukh (56 seats; 17 up for election every two years; members elected by municipal leaders to serve six-year terms) and the National Assembly or Majlis al-Watani (79 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections:
Senate - last held 17 April 1998 (next to be held NA 2001); National Assembly - last held 11 and 18 October 1996 (next to be held NA 2001)
election results:
Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRDS 71, AC 1, independents and other 7
Judicial branch: three-tier system: lower, appeals, and Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders:
Action for Change or AC [Messoud Ould BOULKHEIR]; Assembly for Democracy and Unity or RDU [Ahmed Ould SIDI BABA]; Democratic and Social Republican Party or PRDS (ruling party) [President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA]; National Avant-Garde Party or PAN [Khattry Ould JIDDOU]; Popular Social and Democratic Union or UPSD [Mohamed Mahmoud Ould MAH]; Union of Democratic Forces-New Era or UFD/NE [Ahmed Ould DADDAH]
note:
parties legalized by constitution passed 12 July 1991, however, politics continue to be tribally based
Political pressure groups and leaders: General Confederation of Mauritanian Workers or CGTM [Abdallahi Ould MOHAMED, secretary general]; Mauritanian Workers Union or UTM [Mohamed Ely Ould BRAHIM, secretary general]; B'athists; Arab nationalists; Islamists
International organization participation: ABEDA?, ACCT? (associate), ACP?, AfDB?, AFESD?, AL?, AMF?, AMU?, CAEU?, CCC?, ECA?, ECOWAS?, FAO, G-77?, IBRD?, ICAO, ICRM?, IDA?, IDB?, IFAD?, IFC?, IFRCS?, IHO? (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat?, Interpol?, IOC, ITU, NAM?, OAU?, OIC?, OPCW?, UN, UNCTAD?, UNESCO, UNIDO?, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO?, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Ahmed Ben Khalifa BEN JIDDOU
chancery:
2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
[1] (202) 232-5700
FAX:
[1] (202) 319-2623
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador [Timberlake FOSTER]?
embassy:
Rue Abdallahi Ould Oubeid, Nouakchott?
mailing address:
B. P. 222, Nouakchott
telephone:
[222] (2) 526-60, 526-63
FAX:
[222] (2) 515-92
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
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