History of Mauritania in Timeline

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Mauritania

Mauritania, officially the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, is a Northwest African country bordering the Atlantic Ocean, Western Sahara, Algeria, Mali, and Senegal. It is the 11th-largest country in Africa, with 90% of its territory located in the Sahara Desert. The majority of its 4.3 million population resides in the southern region, with about a third concentrated in the capital city of Nouakchott on the Atlantic coast.

1901: Xavier Coppolani takes charge of imperial mission

In 1901, Xavier Coppolani took charge of the French imperial mission in Mauritania, initiating a strategy of alliances and military pressure.

1902: Capital of French West Africa moved to Dakar

Until 1902, the capital of French West Africa was in modern-day Senegal. From 1902 the capital of French West Africa was in Dakar.

1903: French armies occupy Trarza and Brakna

Beginning in 1903, French armies began occupying Trarza and Brakna in Mauritania.

1904: French armies occupy Tagant and organize Mauritania

In 1904, French armies occupied Tagant, France organized the territory of Mauritania, making it part of French West Africa as a protectorate and later as a colony.

1905: Slavery officially abolished

In 1905, slavery was officially abolished in Mauritania for the first time.

1905: French colonial administration declared an end of slavery

In 1905, the French colonial administration declared an end of slavery in Mauritania, with very little success.

1912: French armies defeat Adrar

In 1912, the French armies defeated Adrar and incorporated it into the territory of Mauritania.

1959: Enshrinement of abolition of slavery

Mauritania enshrined abolition of slavery, albeit implicitly, in its 1959 constitution.

1960: Independence achieved

In 1960, Mauritania achieved independence from France, marking a significant turning point in its history after being part of French West Africa.

1960: Mauritania becomes independent

In 1960, Mauritania became an independent nation.

1960: Nouakchott becomes capital of Mauritania

In 1960, with Senegal gaining independence, France chose Nouakchott as the site of the new capital of Mauritania, which at the time was little more than a fortified village.

1961: Ratification of the Forced Labour Convention

In 1961 Mauritania ratified the Forced Labour Convention.

1964: One-party state formalized

In 1964, President Moktar Ould Daddah formalized Mauritania as a one-party state with a new constitution, establishing an authoritarian presidential regime.

1965: Founding of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Nouakchott

In 1965, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Nouakchott was founded, serving the Catholics in Mauritania.

1976: Mauritania annexes Western Sahara

In 1976, Mauritania, along with Morocco, annexed the territory of Western Sahara.

1976: Daddah re-elected in uncontested election

In 1976, President Daddah was re-elected in an uncontested election under the one-party constitution.

July 1978: Daddah ousted in a coup

On 10 July 1978, President Daddah was ousted in a bloodless coup, following a disastrous war to annex the southern part of Western Sahara.

1978: Daddah re-elected in uncontested election

In 1978, President Daddah was re-elected in an uncontested election under the one-party constitution.

1979: Mauritania withdraws from Western Sahara

In 1979, Mauritania withdrew from Western Sahara after military losses to the Polisario, with its claims taken over by Morocco.

1981: Newspapers report CIA operation

In 1981, United States newspapers mistakenly reported that the Central Intelligence Agency planned a covert operation to overthrow the government of Mauritania as part of U.S. Cold War strategy.

1981: Slavery officially abolished

In 1981, slavery was officially abolished in Mauritania for the second time.

1981: Nominal abolishment of slavery

Slavery was nominally abolished in Mauritania in 1981 by presidential decree.

December 1984: Haidallah deposed by Ould Taya

In December 1984, Haidallah was deposed by Colonel Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya, who relaxed the political climate while retaining tight military control.

1984: Filming of Fort Saganne

In 1984, filming for Fort Saganne took place in Mauritania.

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1986: Opening of first deepwater port

In 1986, Mauritania's first deepwater port opened near Nouakchott.

April 1989: Intercommunal violence breaks out

In April 1989, intercommunal violence broke out in Mauritania, known as the "Mauritania–Senegal Border War."

April 1989: Mauritanian guards kill Senegalese

On 9 April 1989, Mauritanian guards killed two Senegalese, which contributed to the start of the Mauritania-Senegal Border War.

1990: Conflict with Senegal continues

As low scale conflict with Senegal continued into 1990/91, the Mauritanian government engaged in and encouraged acts of violence and seizures of property directed against the Halpularen ethnic group.

June 1991: UNHCR estimates Mauritanian refugees

As of June 1991, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimated that 52,995 Mauritanian refugees were living in Senegal and at least 13,000 in Mali due to the conflict with Senegal.

1991: New Constitution approved

In 1991, a new Constitution was approved in Mauritania, putting an end to formal military rule and legalizing opposition parties.

1991: Tensions with Western countries grow

In 1991, tensions with Western countries grew after Mauritania took a pro-Iraqi position during the Gulf War.

1992: Referendum Scheduled for Western Sahara

A referendum was originally scheduled for 1992 in Western Sahara, to determine whether or not the indigenous Sahrawis wish to be independent.

1992: National and municipal elections

Since 1992, a series of national and municipal elections have produced limited decentralization in Mauritania.

1997: Filming of The Fifth Element

In 1997, filming for The Fifth Element took place in Mauritania.

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March 1999: Agreement with World Bank and IMF

In March 1999, the government of Mauritania signed an agreement with a joint World Bank-International Monetary Fund mission on a $54 million enhanced structural adjustment facility (ESAF).

October 1999: Mauritania recognizes Israel

On 28 October 1999, Mauritania joined Egypt, Palestine, and Jordan as the only members of the Arab League to officially recognize Israel.

1999: Introduction of Modern Standard Arabic

Since 1999, all teaching in the first year of primary school in Mauritania is in Modern Standard Arabic; French is introduced in the second year.

2000: DNA study of Yemeni people

In 2000, a DNA study of the Yemeni people suggested a possible ancient connection with Berber tribes of Mauritania.

2001: Filming of Winged Migration

In 2001, filming for Winged Migration took place in Mauritania.

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2001: Oil discovered by Woodside Company

In 2001, oil was discovered in Mauritania by the Woodside Company.

2001: Oil discovery

In 2001, oil was discovered in Mauritania in the offshore Chinguetti Field.

2004: Per capita expenditure on health

In 2004, per capita expenditure on health in Mauritania was US$43 (PPP).

August 2005: Military coup led by Colonel Ely Ould Mohamed Vall

On 3 August 2005, a military coup led by Colonel Ely Ould Mohamed Vall ended President Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya's 21 years of rule.

2005: Military coup

In 2005, a military coup occurred in Mauritania, leading to later democratic elections.

June 2006: New constitution approved

In June 2006, 97% of Mauritanians approved a new constitution that limited the duration of a president's stay in office.

December 2006: Parliamentary and municipal elections take place

In December 2006, parliamentary and municipal elections in Mauritania took place.

March 2007: First democratic presidential elections

On 11 March 2007, Mauritania's first fully democratic presidential elections took place, effecting the final transfer from military to civilian rule following the military coup in 2005.

August 2007: Slavery officially abolished for the third time

In August 2007, slavery was officially abolished in Mauritania for the third time.

2007: Enactment of criminal law against ownership of slaves

A criminal law against the ownership of slaves in Mauritania was enacted in 2007.

2007: Repatriation of Mauritanians from Senegal and Mali

After 2007, many Mauritanians, who had been expelled during the conflict with Senegal, were repatriated from Senegal and Mali.

August 2008: Presidential guards take over

On 6 August 2008, the head of the presidential guards took over the president's palace in Nouakchott, leading to the arrest of the President, Prime Minister, and Minister of Internal Affairs.

2008: Accusations of torture

Following the 2008 coup, Amnesty International accused the military government of Mauritania of practicing coordinated torture against criminal and political detainees.

2008: Amnesty International on torture

In 2008, Amnesty International alleged that torture was common in Mauritania and that its usage is "deeply anchored in the culture of the security forces".

2008: Mauritanian coup d'état

In 2008, General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz led a coup d'état in Mauritania, leading to a period of political instability.

2009: New presidential elections held

In 2009, Abdel Aziz insisted on holding new presidential elections to replace Abdallahi in Mauritania. Abdallahi formally resigned under protest.

2009: Presidential elections won by Abdel Aziz

In 2009, General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz won the presidential elections in Mauritania following the previous year's coup.

2010: US State Department Human Rights Report on antislavery law

According to the US State Department 2010 Human Rights Report, Government efforts were not sufficient to enforce the antislavery law, and no cases have been successfully prosecuted under the antislavery law despite the fact that de facto slavery exists in Mauritania."

2010: US State Department Human Rights Report

According to the US State Department 2010 Human Rights Report, abuses in Mauritania include:

February 2011: Arab Spring spreads to Mauritania

In February 2011, the waves of the Arab Spring spread to Mauritania, with thousands taking to the streets of the capital.

2011: Life expectancy

As of 2011, life expectancy at birth in Mauritania was 61.14 years.

2012: Football ranking

Despite being ranked as the fourth-worst team in the world in 2012, Mauritania's football team later showed improvement.

2012: CNN documentary on slavery

In 2012, a CNN documentary estimated that 10% to 20% of the population of Mauritania live in slavery, although this estimation is considered by several academics to be grossly overstated.

2012: Government minister statement on slavery

In 2012, a government minister stated that slavery "no longer exists" in Mauritania.

November 2014: Mauritania invited to G20 summit

In November 2014, Mauritania was invited as a non-member guest nation to the G20 summit in Brisbane.

2014: Presidential elections won by Abdel Aziz

In 2014, General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz won subsequent presidential elections in Mauritania.

2014: Filming of Timbuktu

In 2014, filming for Timbuktu took place in Mauritania.

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2014: US State Department on torture

In 2014, the United States Department of State identified torture by Mauritanian law enforcement as one of the "central human rights problems" in the country.

2015: Gold production

In 2015, Mauritania's gold production reached 9 metric tons.

2016: UN expert on human rights on torture

Juan E. Méndez, an independent expert on human rights from the United Nations, reported in 2016 that legal protections against torture were present but not applied in Mauritania.

August 2017: Abolishment of the Senate

In August 2017, the Senate, the upper house of the Mauritanian parliament, was abolished following a referendum. President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz initiated the referendum after the Senate rejected his proposals to amend the constitution.

August 2017: National flag changed

In August 2017, the national flag of Mauritania was changed with the addition of two red stripes, symbolizing the country's sacrifice and defense.

April 2018: Law passed on blasphemous speech

On 27 April 2018, the National Assembly of Mauritania passed a law that makes the death penalty mandatory for anyone convicted of "blasphemous speech" and acts deemed "sacrilegious".

2018: Walk Free Foundation's Global Slavery Index

According to the Walk Free Foundation's Global Slavery Index, there were an estimated 90,000 enslaved people in Mauritania in 2018, or around 2% of the population.

2018: Armed forces budget

As of 2018, the Mauritanian armed forces budget constituted 3.9% of the country's GDP.

2018: Qatar corruption scandal at the European Parliament

In 2018, Mauritania bribed members of the EU parliament, including Antonio Panzeri, to suppress negative commentary about Mauritania, an event known as the Qatar corruption scandal at the European Parliament.

2018: Global Slavery Index estimates 90,000 slaves

In 2018, the Global Slavery Index estimated that there were approximately 90,000 slaves in Mauritania, representing about 2.1% of the population, highlighting the ongoing issue of slavery in the country.

August 2019: Mohamed Ould Ghazouani sworn in as president

In August 2019, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani was sworn in as president of Mauritania following the 2019 elections, which marked the country's first peaceful transition of power since its independence.

2019: Mohamed Ould Ghazouani succeeds Abdel Aziz

In 2019, General Mohamed Ould Ghazouani succeeded General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz following the elections, leading an autocratic government with a poor human rights record, particularly due to the perpetuation of slavery.

2019: Africa Cup of Nations qualification

In 2019, Mauritania qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations.

2020: Atlas of Cursed Places episode

In 2020, the TV show Atlas of Cursed Places aired an episode that mentions Mauritania as a possible location for the lost city of Atlantis. The episode aired on the Discovery Channel and National Geographic Channel.

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2020: Christian population

In 2020, the number of Christians in Mauritania was estimated at 10,000.

June 2021: Arrest of Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz

In June 2021, former president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz was arrested amidst a corruption probe investigating allegations of embezzlement.

2021: Population of Mauritania

As of 2021, Mauritania had a population of about 4.3 million, with roughly a third concentrated in the capital and largest city, Nouakchott.

December 2023: Aziz sentenced to prison

In December 2023, Aziz was sentenced to 5 years in prison for corruption.

2023: AFCON 2023 qualifiers

In 2023, Mauritania defeated Sudan in the AFCON 2023 qualifiers.

June 2024: Ghazouani re-elected for a second term

In June 2024, President Ghazouani was re-elected for a second term in Mauritania.

June 29, 2024: Presidential election

On June 29, 2024, the last presidential election was held, with President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani winning re-election.

2024: Global Innovation Index ranking

In 2024, Mauritania was ranked 126th out of 139 in the Global Innovation Index.

2024: Filming of The Grand Tour

In 2024, filming for The Grand Tour took place in Mauritania.

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2024: EU deal with Mauritania to reduce migration

In early 2024, a surge in refugees arriving on the Canary Islands led to a visit from European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez. Subsequently, the EU signed a €210M deal with Mauritania to curb the passage of African migrants through its territory towards the Canary Islands.