party - CPM (Coalition of Majority Parties) 45, COD (Coordination of
Democratic Opposition) 7, RNRD-TAWASSOUL 4; National Assembly -
percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CPM 63 (UPR 50, PRDR
7, UDP 3, HATEM-PMUC 2, RD 1), COD 27 (RFD 9, UFP 6, APP 6,
PNDD-ADIL 6), RNRD-TAWASSOUL 4, FP 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Court of Appeals; lower courts
Political parties and leaders:
Alternative or El-Badil [Mohamed Yahdhi Ould MOCTAR HACEN];
Coalition of Majority Parties or CPM (parties supporting the regime
including PRDR, UPR, RD, HATEM-PMUC, UCD); Coordination of
Democratic Opposition or COD (coalition of opposition political
parties opposed to the government including APP, RFD, UFP,
PNDD-ADIL, Alternative or El-Badil); Democratic Renewal or RD
[Moustapha Ould ABDEIDARRAHMANE]; Mauritanian Party for Unity and
Change or HATEM-PMUC [Saleh Ould HANENA]; National Pact for
Democracy and Development or PNDD-ADIL [Yahya Ould Ahmed Ould
WAGHEF] (independents formerly supporting President Abdellahi);
National Rally for Freedom, Democracy and Equality or RNDLE;
National Rally for Reform and Development/RNRD-TAWASSOUL [Mohamed
Jamil MANSOUR] (moderate Islamists); Popular Front or FP [Ch'bih
Ould CHEIKH MALAININE]; Popular Progressive Alliance or APP [Messoud
Ould BOULKHEIR]; Rally of Democratic Forces or RFD [Ahmed Ould
DADDAH]; Republican Party for Democracy and Renewal or PRDR [Mintata
Mint HDEID]; Socialist and Democratic Unity Party or PUDS; Union for
Democracy and Progress or UDP [Naha Mint MOUKNASS]; Union for the
Republic or UPR; Union of Democratic Center or UCD [Cheikh Sid'Ahmed
Ould BABA]; Union of the Forces for Progress or UFP [Mohamed Ould
MAOULOUD];
Political pressure groups and leaders:
General Confederation of Mauritanian Workers or CGTM [Abdallahi Ould
MOHAMED, secretary general]; Independent Confederation of
Mauritanian Workers or CLTM [Samory Ould BEYE]; Mauritanian Workers
Union or UTM [Mohamed Ely Ould BRAHIM, secretary general]
other: Arab nationalists; Ba'thists; Islamists
International organization participation:
ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, NAM,
OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed Lemine EL HAYCEN
chancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 232-5700 through 5701
FAX: [1] (202) 319-2623
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mark M. BOULWARE
embassy: 288 Rue Abdallaye, Rue 42-100 (between Presidency building
and Spanish Embassy), Nouakchott
mailing address: BP 222, Nouakchott
telephone: [222] 525-2660 through 2663
FAX: [222] 525-1592
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; the gold
color stands for the sands of the Sahara
National anthem:
name: "Hymne National de la Republique Islamique de Mauritanie"
(National Anthem of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania)
lyrics/music: Baba Ould CHEIKH/traditional, arranged by Tolia
NIKIPROWETZKY
note: adopted 1960; the unique rhythm of the Mauritanian anthem
makes it particularly challenging to sing
Economy ::Mauritania
Economy - overview:
Half the population still depends on agriculture and livestock for a
livelihood, even though many of the nomads and subsistence farmers
were forced into the cities by recurrent droughts in the 1970s and
1980s. Mauritania has extensive deposits of iron ore, which account
for nearly 40% of total exports. 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. Before 2000, drought
and economic mismanagement resulted in a buildup of foreign debt. In
February 2000, Mauritania qualified for debt relief under the
Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative and nearly all of
its foreign debt has since been forgiven. A new investment code
approved in December 2001 improved the opportunities for direct
foreign investment. Mauritania and the IMF agreed to a three-year
Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) arrangement in 2006.
Mauritania made satisfactory progress, but the IMF, World Bank, and
other international actors suspended assistance and investment in
Mauritania after the August 2008 coup. Since the presidential
election in July 2009, donors have resumed assistance. Oil
prospects, while initially promising, have largely failed to
materialize, and the government has placed a priority on attracting
private investment to spur economic growth. The Government also
emphasizes reduction of poverty, improvement of health and
education, and privatization of the economy.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$6.8 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
$6.476 billion (2009 est.)
$6.542 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$3.486 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
-1% (2009 est.)
3.5% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,100 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
$2,100 (2009 est.)
$2,100 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 12.5%
industry: 46.7%
services: 40.7% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
1.318 million (2007)
country comparison to the world: 135
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 50%
industry: 10%
services: 40% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
30% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
20% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:
40% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 29.5% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
39 (2000)
country comparison to the world: 71
37.3 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.3% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Central bank discount rate:
NA% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 33
12% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA%
Stock of domestic credit:
$NA
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
dates, millet, sorghum, rice, corn; cattle, sheep
Industries:
fish processing, oil production, mining of iron ore, gold, and copper
note: gypsum deposits have never been exploited
Industrial production growth rate:
2% (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Electricity - production:
415.3 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Electricity - consumption:
386.2 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
16,510 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Oil - consumption:
20,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Oil - exports:
30,620 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Oil - imports:
20,610 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Oil - proved reserves:
100 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Natural gas - proved reserves:
28.32 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Current account balance:
-$184 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Exports:
$1.395 billion (2006)
country comparison to the world: 141
Exports - commodities:
iron ore, fish and fish products, gold, copper, petroleum
Exports - partners:
China 42.06%, Italy 9.71%, Japan 7.57%, Cote d'Ivoire 6.16%, Spain
5.63%, Netherlands 4.32% (2009)
Imports:
$1.475 billion (2006)
country comparison to the world: 163
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, petroleum products, capital goods,
foodstuffs, consumer goods
Imports - partners:
France 14.3%, Netherlands 10.33%, China 9.94%, Brazil 5.58%, Belgium
4.87%, Germany 4.04%, Spain 4.02% (2009)
Debt - external:
$NA
Exchange rates:
ouguiyas (MRO) per US dollar - 261.5 (2010 est.), 262.4 (2009),
238.2 (2008), 258.6 (2007), 271.3 (2006)
Communications ::Mauritania
Telephones - main lines in use:
74,500 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 151
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.182 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 130
Telephone system:
general assessment: limited system of cable and open-wire lines,
minor microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications
stations; mobile-cellular services expanding rapidly
domestic: Mauritel, the national telecommunications company, was
privatized in 2001 but remains the monopoly provider of fixed-line
services; fixed-line teledensity 2 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular
network coverage extends mainly to urban areas with a teledensity of
70 per 100 persons; mostly cable and open-wire lines; a domestic
satellite telecommunications system links Nouakchott with regional
capitals
international: country code - 222; satellite earth stations - 3 (1
Intelsat - Atlantic Ocean, 2 Arabsat); optical-fiber and Asymmetric
Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) cables for internet access (2008)
Broadcast media:
broadcast media state-owned; 1 state-run TV and 1 state-run radio
network; Television de Mauritanie, the state-run TV station, has an
additional 6 regional TV stations that provide local programming
(2008)
Internet country code:
.mr
Internet hosts:
23 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 216
Internet users:
75,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 169
Transportation ::Mauritania
Airports:
28 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 120
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 19
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 2 (2010)
Railways:
728 km
standard gauge: 728 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 11,066 km
country comparison to the world: 133
paved: 2,966 km
unpaved: 8,100 km (2006)
Waterways:
some navigation possible on Senegal River (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Nouadhibou, Nouakchott
Military ::Mauritania
Military branches:
Mauritanian Armed Forces: Army, Mauritanian Navy (Marine
Mauritanienne; includes naval infantry), Islamic Air Force of
Mauritania (Force Aerienne Islamique de Mauritanie, FAIM) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (est.); conscript service obligation - 2 years;
majority of servicemen believed to be volunteers; service in Air
Force and Navy is voluntary (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 699,028
females age 16-49: 783,108 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 464,959
females age 16-49: 562,765 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 35,322
female: 36,035 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
5.5% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 13
Transnational Issues ::Mauritania
Disputes - international:
Mauritanian claims to Western Sahara remain dormant
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Mauritania is a source and destination country
for children trafficked for forced labor and sexual exploitation;
slavery-related practices, rooted in ancestral master-slave
relationships, continue to exist in isolated parts of the country;
Mauritanian boys called talibe are trafficked within the country by
religious teachers for forced begging; children are also trafficked
by street gangs within the country that force them to steal, beg,
and sell drugs; girls are trafficked internally for domestic
servitude and sexual exploitation; women and children from
neighboring states are trafficked into Mauritania for purposes of
forced begging, domestic servitude, and sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 3 - the Government of Mauritania does not fully
comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking
and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government did
not show evidence of overall progress in prosecuting and punishing
trafficking offenders, protecting trafficking victims, and
preventing new incidents of trafficking during the past year;
progress that the previous government demonstrated in 2007 through
enactment of strengthened anti-slavery legislation and deepened
political will to eliminate slavery and trafficking has stalled; law
enforcement efforts to address human trafficking including
traditional slavery practices decreased (2009)
page last updated on January 26, 2011
======================================================================
@Mauritius (Africa)
Introduction ::Mauritius
Background:
Although known to Arab and Malay sailors as early as the 10th
century, Mauritius was first explored by the Portuguese in the 16th
century and subsequently settled by the Dutch - who named it in
honor of Prince Maurits van NASSAU - in the 17th century. The French
assumed control in 1715, developing the island into an important
naval base overseeing Indian Ocean trade, and establishing a
plantation economy of sugar cane. The British captured the island in
1810, during the Napoleonic Wars. Mauritius remained a strategically
important British naval base, and later an air station, playing an
important role during World War II for anti-submarine and convoy
operations, as well as the collection of signals intelligence.
Independence from the UK was attained in 1968. A stable democracy
with regular free elections and a positive human rights record, the
country has attracted considerable foreign investment and has earned
one of Africa's highest per capita incomes. Recent poor weather,
declining sugar prices, and declining textile and apparel
production, have slowed economic growth, leading to some protests
over standards of living in the Creole community.
Geography ::Mauritius
Location:
Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar
Geographic coordinates:
20 17 S, 57 33 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 2,040 sq km
country comparison to the world: 180
land: 2,030 sq km
water: 10 sq km
note: includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint
Brandon), and Rodrigues
Area - comparative:
almost 11 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
177 km
Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:
tropical, modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter (May
to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May)
Terrain:
small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encircling
central plateau
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Piton 828 m
Natural resources:
arable land, fish
Land use:
arable land: 49.02%
permanent crops: 2.94%
other: 48.04% (2005)
Irrigated land:
220 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
2.2 cu km (2001)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.61 cu km/yr (25%/14%/60%)
per capita: 488 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
cyclones (November to April); almost completely surrounded by reefs
that may pose maritime hazards
Environment - current issues:
water pollution, degradation of coral reefs
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
the main island, from which the country derives its name, is of
volcanic origin and is almost entirely surrounded by coral reefs;
home of the dodo, a large flightless bird related to pigeons, driven
to extinction by the end of the 17th century through a combination
of hunting and the introduction of predatory species
People ::Mauritius
Population:
1,294,104 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
Age structure:
0-14 years: 22.5% (male 147,136/female 142,121)
15-64 years: 70.4% (male 449,176/female 455,057)
65 years and over: 7.1% (male 36,309/female 54,465) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 32.3 years
male: 31.4 years
female: 33.2 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.751% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Birth rate:
14.17 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Death rate:
6.63 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Net migration rate:
-0.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Urbanization:
urban population: 42% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 11.85 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 142
male: 14.09 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.49 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.25 years
country comparison to the world: 99
male: 70.77 years
female: 77.89 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.8 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.7% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
13,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Nationality:
noun: Mauritian(s)
adjective: Mauritian
Ethnic groups:
Indo-Mauritian 68%, Creole 27%, Sino-Mauritian 3%, Franco-Mauritian
2%
Religions:
Hindu 48%, Roman Catholic 23.6%, Muslim 16.6%, other Christian 8.6%,
other 2.5%, unspecified 0.3%, none 0.4% (2000 census)
Languages:
Creole 80.5%, Bhojpuri 12.1%, French 3.4%, English (official; spoken
by less than 1% of the population), other 3.7%, unspecified 0.3%
(2000 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 84.4%
male: 88.4%
female: 80.5% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
3.4% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 136
Government ::Mauritius
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Mauritius
conventional short form: Mauritius
local long form: Republic of Mauritius
local short form: Mauritius
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Port Louis
geographic coordinates: 20 09 S, 57 29 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
9 districts and 3 dependencies*; Agalega Islands*, Black River,
Cargados Carajos Shoals*, Flacq, Grand Port, Moka, Pamplemousses,
Plaines Wilhems, Port Louis, Riviere du Rempart, Rodrigues*, Savanne
Independence:
12 March 1968 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 12 March (1968)
Constitution:
12 March 1968; amended 12 March 1992
Legal system:
based on French civil law system with elements of English common law
in certain areas; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with
reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH (since 7 October
2003); Vice President Monique OHSAN-BELLEPEAU (since 13 November
2010)
head of government: Prime Minister Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM (since 5
July 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president and vice president elected by the National
Assembly for five-year terms (eligible for a second term); elections
last held on 19 September 2008 (next to be held in 2013); prime
minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president,
responsible to the National Assembly
election results: Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH reelected president by
unanimous vote; percent of vote by the National Assembly - NA%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (70 seats; 62 members elected by
popular vote, 8 appointed by the election commission to give
representation to various ethnic minorities; members to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held on 5 May 2010 (next to be held in 2015)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - AF
41, MMM 18, MR 2, MSF 1; appointed seats - to be assigned 8
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance of the Future or AF [Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM] (governing
coalition - includes MLD, MMSM, MR, MSD, PMXD); Mauritian Labor
Party or MLP [Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM]; Mauritian Militant Movement
or MMM [Paul BERENGER]; Mauritian Militant Socialist Movement or
MMSM [Pravind JUGNAUTH]; Mauritian Socialist Militant Movement or
MSMM [Madan DULLOO]; Mauritian Solidarity Front [Cehl FAKEERMEEAH];
Mouvement Republicain or MR [Jayarama VALAYDEN]; Parti Mauricien
Xavier Duval or PMXD [Xavier Luc DUVAL]; Rodrigues Movement or MR
[Joseph (Nicholas) Von MALLY]; Rodrigues Peoples Organization or OPR
[Serge CLAIR]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: various labor unions
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, C, COMESA, CPLP (associate), FAO, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
IMSO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, SAARC (observer), SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Joyker
NAYECK
chancery: 1709 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 244-1491 through 1492
FAX: [1] (202) 966-0983
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Jo WILLS
embassy: 4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis
mailing address: international mail: P. O. Box 544, Port Louis; US
mail: American Embassy, Port Louis, US Department of State,
Washington, DC 20521-2450
telephone: [230] 202-4400
FAX: [230] 208-9534
Flag description:
four equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, yellow, and green;
red represents the blood shed for independence, blue the Indian
Ocean surrounding the island, yellow has been interpreted as the new
light of independence, golden sunshine, or the bright future, and
green can symbolize either agriculture or the lush vegetation of the
island
National anthem:
name: "Motherland"
lyrics/music: Jean Georges PROSPER/Philippe GENTIL
note: adopted 1968
Economy ::Mauritius
Economy - overview: