At a Glance
Alliances & Memberships
- UN
- AU (chair 2024)
- Arab League
- OIC
- Arab Maghreb Union
Foreign Policy Overview
AU chair 2024; Sahel security buffer; iron and gas exports; cordial with all Sahel powers.
Key Positions on Major Issues
Sahel counter-terrorism; AU coordination; pro-Palestine.
UN Voting Record Notes
African/Arab/OIC consensus.
Economy & Trade
Mauritania's economy is heavily dependent on natural resources, particularly iron ore, which accounts for nearly half of its export earnings, followed by gold and copper. The nation utilizes the Mauritanian Ouguiya (MRU) and relies significantly on its coastal fishing waters, among the richest in the world, often exploited through agreements with the EU and China. While the service sector is growing, agricultural productivity remains limited by the Sahara's encroachment, though offshore gas projects like the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) are set to transform the economy through energy exports. Key trading partners include China, the United Arab Emirates, and Switzerland.
Military & Security
The Mauritanian Armed Forces (Armée Nationale Mauritanienne) consist of approximately 16,000 active personnel and have been praised for successfully preventing domestic terrorist attacks since 2011. Defense spending remains around 2-3% of GDP, prioritizing border surveillance and counter-insurgency tactics in the Sahel. Mauritania remains a non-nuclear state and is a 'Partner across the Globe' with NATO, participating in the Mediterranean Dialogue. The military doctrine emphasizes 'Mobile Group' units designed to intercept militant incursions from the desert interior.
Recent History
After decades of military coups, the 21st century has seen Mauritania slowly transition toward more stable governance, highlighted by Muhammad Ould Abdel Aziz's long tenure (2009–2019) focused on security and anti-militancy. The 2019 election of Mohamed Ould Ghazouani marked the country's first peaceful democratic transition of power. Recent years have been defined by Mauritania's strategic resilience in a volatile Sahel region, successfully insulating itself from the coups that toppled neighbors Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. The government has balances relations with both the West (for security) and China/Russia (for infrastructure and mining). Domestically, the official abolition of slavery in 1981 and its criminalization in 2007 remain sensitive, with ongoing international pressure to enforce these laws. In 2024, Mauritania assumed the chairmanship of the African Union, elevating its profile as a mediator in continental conflicts.
International Memberships
- Arab Leaguesince 1973
Founding member, core to regional identity and religious ties.
- G5 Sahel (and successor frameworks)since 2014
Key regional security framework; Mauritania hosts the permanent secretariat in Nouakchott.
- Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)since 1969
Active participant in Islamic solidarity and cooperation.
- African Union (AU)since 1963 (as OAU)
Essential for trade and regional diplomacy in West/North Africa.
- EU-ACP Partnership (Cotonou/Samoa Agreement)since 2000
Major trading partner through Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements.
MUN Negotiation Profile
Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) / Arab-African Pivot
Pragmatic and mediation-oriented; often acts as a bridge between the Maghreb and Sub-Saharan Africa. Prefers consensus-based solutions that respect territorial integrity.
- Any recognition or support for armed insurgent groups in the Sahel.
- External interference in domestic human rights policies or traditional social structures.
- Direct condemnation of Arab League or African Union partners in public forums.
- "Promotion of the 'Mauritanian Model' of counter-radicalization and border security."
- "Increased international funding for the Green Great Wall to combat desertification."
- "Equitable distribution of revenues from transnational gas fields (GTA project)."