Introduction:

Independent from France in 1960, Mauritania annexed the southern third of the former Spanish Sahara (now Western Sahara) in 1976, but relinquished it after three years of raids by the Polisario guerrilla front seeking independence for the territory. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA seized power in a coup in 1984. Opposition parties were legalized and a new constitution approved in 1991. Two multiparty presidential elections since then were widely seen as flawed, but October 2001 legislative and municipal elections were generally free and open. A bloodless coup in August 2005 deposed President TAYA and ushered in a military council, which declared it would remain in power for up to two years while it created conditions for genuine democratic institutions and organized elections. Accordingly, parliamentary elections were held in late 2006-early 2007 and presidential elections in March 2007. The newly-elected legislature is expected to assume power following the inauguration of the new president in April 2007. The country continues to experience ethnic tensions among its black population and different Moor (Arab-Berber) communities.

Official name: Islamic Republic of Mauritania Capital: name: Nouakchott geographic coordinates: 18 07 N, 16 02 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) Government type: republic Population: 3,270,065 (July 2007 est.) Languages: Arabic (official), Pulaar, Soninke, French, Hassaniya, Wolof Official Currency: Mauritanian Ouguiya (MRO) Currency code: MRO Area: total: 1,030,700 sq km land: 1,030,400 sq km water: 300 sq km Climate: desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty

 

Geography

 

Location: Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara Geographic coordinates: 20 00 N, 12 00 W Map references: Africa Area: total: 1,030,700 sq km land: 1,030,400 sq km water: 300 sq km Area - comparative: slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico Land boundaries: total: 5,074 km border countries: Algeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km, Senegal 813 km, Western Sahara 1,561 km Coastline: 754 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin Climate: desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty Terrain: mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills Elevation extremes: lowest point: Sebkhet Te-n-Dghamcha -5 m highest point: Kediet Ijill 915 m Natural resources: iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, fish Land use: arable land: 0.2% permanent crops: 0.01% other: 99.79% (2005) Irrigated land: 490 sq km (2002) Natural hazards: hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and April; periodic droughts Environment - current issues: overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion aggravated by drought are contributing to desertification; very limited natural fresh water resources away from the Senegal, which is the only perennial river; locust infestation Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Geography - note: most of the population concentrated in the cities of Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the southern part of the country

 

Climate

The tables below display average monthly climate indicators in major cities based on 8 years of historical weather readings.

Temperature by:  Centigrade

NOUAKCHOTT 18 10 N, 15 95 W, 9 feet (3 meters) above sea level.
 

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Avg. Temperature 21 23 23 24 24 26 26 28 29 28 26 23 Avg. Max Temperature 29 32 32 33 33 33 31 33 34 36 34 30 Avg. Min Temperature 14 16 17 18 19 22 23 25 25 23 20 16 Avg. Rain Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 1 0 1 Avg. Snow Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BIR MOGHREIN 25 23 N, 11 61 W, 1181 feet (360 meters) above sea level.
 

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Avg. Temperature 17 20 22 24 26 30 34 33 30 27 23 20 Avg. Max Temperature 22 26 28 29 33 37 41 40 36 32 29 25 Avg. Min Temperature 11 14 15 16 18 22 24 25 23 20 17 13 Avg. Rain Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Avg. Snow Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

NEMA 16 60 N, 7 26 W, 882 feet (269 meters) above sea level.
 

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Avg. Temperature 24 27 30 35 37 36 33 30 32 32 30 25 Avg. Max Temperature 29 32 35 40 41 41 38 35 37 37 35 30 Avg. Min Temperature 18 20 24 29 31 30 27 26 26 27 24 20 Avg. Rain Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Avg. Snow Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

NOUADHIBOU 20 93 N, 17 3 W, 9 feet (3 meters) above sea level.
 

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Avg. Temperature 18 20 19 20 20 22 22 23 24 23 22 20 Avg. Max Temperature 24 26 26 26 26 28 27 28 30 30 28 26 Avg. Min Temperature 14 16 16 16 17 18 19 21 21 19 18 16 Avg. Rain Days 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 Avg. Snow Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

KIFFA 16 63 N, 11 40 W, 377 feet (115 meters) above sea level.
 

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Avg. Temperature 24 27 30 34 37 37 34 31 32 33 29 25 Avg. Max Temperature 30 34 37 41 42 42 38 36 37 38 36 31 Avg. Min Temperature 16 19 22 26 30 31 29 26 26 26 21 18 Avg. Rain Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Avg. Snow Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

ROSSO 16 50 N, 15 81 W, 19 feet (6 meters) above sea level.
 

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Avg. Temperature 23 26 28 29 31 31 30 30 30 31 29 25 Avg. Max Temperature 31 35 37 38 40 39 36 35 36 37 36 32 Avg. Min Temperature 15 18 19 19 21 23 24 25 25 23 20 17 Avg. Rain Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Avg. Snow Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

People

Nationality: Noun and adjective--Mauritanian(s).
Population (2005): 2,906,000.
Annual growth rate: 2.7%.
Ethnic groups: Arab-Berber (White Moor), Arab-Berber-Negroid (Black Moor), Haalpulaar, Soninke, Wolof (Black African Mauritanians).
Religion: Islam.
Languages: Arabic (official), Hassaniya (Arabic dialect), French, Pulaar, Wolof, and Soninke.
Education: Years compulsory--six. Attendance (student population enrolled in primary school)--82%. Adult literacy (% of population age 15+)--59%.
Health: Infant mortality rate--77/1,000. Life expectancy--51 yrs.
Work force: Agriculture and fisheries--50%. Services and commerce--20%. Government--20%. Industry and transportation--10%.

Government
Type: Republic.
Independence: November 28, 1960.
Constitution: Approved 1991. Original constitution promulgated 1961.
Branches: Executive--president (head of state). Legislative--bicameral national assembly, directly elected lower house (81 members), and upper house (56 members) chosen indirectly by municipal councilors. Judicial--a supreme court and lower courts are nominally independent but subject to control of executive branch; judicial decisions are rendered mainly on the basis of Shari'a (Islamic law) for social/family matters and a western style legal code, applied in commercial and some criminal cases.
Political parties: 21.
Suffrage: Universal at 18.
National day: November 28, Independence Day

.

Population: 3,270,065 (July 2007 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 45.5% (male 744,995/female 741,369) 15-64 years: 52.4% (male 845,272/female 866,998) 65 years and over: 2.2% (male 28,564/female 42,867) (2007 est.) Population growth rate: 2.867% (2007 est.) Birth rate: 40.56 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) Death rate: 11.89 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.005 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.975 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.666 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2007 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 68.07 deaths/1,000 live births male: 71.07 deaths/1,000 live births female: 64.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 53.51 years male: 51.24 years female: 55.85 years (2007 est.) Total fertility rate: 5.78 children born/woman (2007 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.6% (2003 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 9,500 (2003 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 500 (2003 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and Rift Valley fever are high risks in some locations respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2007) Nationality: noun: Mauritanian(s) adjective: Mauritanian Ethnic groups: mixed Moor/black 40%, Moor 30%, black 30% Religions: Muslim 100% Languages: Arabic (official), Pulaar, Soninke, French, Hassaniya, Wolof Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 51.2% male: 59.5% female: 43.4% (2000 census)

HISTORY

From the 3rd to 7th centuries, the migration of Berber tribes from North Africa displaced the Bafours, the original inhabitants of present-day Mauritania and the ancestors of the Soninke. Continued Arab-Berber migration drove indigenous black Africans south to the Senegal River or enslaved them. By 1076, Islamic warrior monks (Almoravid or Al Murabitun) completed the conquest of southern Mauritania, defeating the ancient Ghana empire. Over the next 500 years, Arabs overcame fierce Berber resistance to dominate Mauritania. The Mauritanian Thirty-Year War (1644-74) was the unsuccessful final Berber effort to repel the Maqil Arab invaders led by the Beni Hassan tribe. The descendants of Beni Hassan warriors became the upper stratum of Moorish society. Berbers retained influence by producing the majority of the region's Marabouts--those who preserve and teach Islamic tradition. Hassaniya, a mainly oral, Berber-influenced Arabic dialect that derives its name from the Beni Hassan tribe, became the dominant language among the largely nomadic population. Within Moorish society, aristocratic and servant classes developed, yielding 'white' (aristocracy) and 'black' Moors (the enslaved indigenous class).

French colonization at the beginning of the 20th century brought legal prohibitions against slavery and an end to interclan warfare. During the colonial period, the population remained nomadic, but sedentary black Africans, whose ancestors had been expelled centuries earlier by the Moors, began to trickle back into southern Mauritania. As the country gained independence in 1960, the capital city of Nouakchott was founded at the site of a small colonial village. Ninety percent of the population was still nomadic. With independence, larger numbers of ethnic Sub-Saharan Africans (Haalpulaar, Soninke, and Wolof) entered Mauritania, moving into the area north of the Senegal River. Educated in French, many of these recent arrivals became clerks, soldiers, and administrators in the new state.

Moors reacted to this change by trying to Arabicize much of Mauritanian life, such as law and language. A schism developed between those who considered Mauritania to be an Arab country (mainly Moors) and those who sought a dominant role for the Sub-Saharan peoples. The discord between these two conflicting visions of Mauritanian society was evident during intercommunal violence that broke out in April 1989 (the '1989 Events').

The country's first president, Moktar Ould Daddah, served from independence until ousted in a bloodless coup on July 10, 1978. Mauritania was under military rule from 1978 to 1992, when the country's first multi-party elections were held following the July 1991 approval by referendum of a constitution.

The Democratic and Social Republican Party (PRDS), led by President Maaouiya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya, dominated Mauritanian politics from April 1992 until he was overthrown in August 2005. President Taya, who won elections in 1992 and 1997, first became chief of state through a December 12, 1984 bloodless coup which made him chairman of the committee of military officers that governed Mauritania from July 1978 to April 1992. A group of current and former Army officers launched a bloody but unsuccessful coup attempt on June 8, 2003.

On November 7, 2003, Mauritania's third presidential election since adopting the democratic process in 1992 took place. Incumbent President Taya was reelected. Several opposition groups alleged that the government had used fraudulent means to win the elections, but did not elect to pursue their grievances via available legal channels. The elections incorporated safeguards first adopted in 2001 municipal elections--published voter lists and hard-to-falsify voter identification cards.

On August 3, 2005, President Taya was deposed in a bloodless coup. Military commanders, led by Colonel Ely Ould Mohammed Fal (alternative spelling: Vall) seized power while President Taya was attending the funeral of Saudi Arabia's King Fahd. Colonel Fal established the ruling Military Council for Justice and Democracy to run the country. The council dissolved the Parliament and appointed a transitional government.

 

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS

Mauritania held series of elections that began in November 2006 with a parliamentary vote and culminated March 25, 2007 with the second round of the presidential election. Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdellahi was elected President.

The government bureaucracy is composed of ministries, special agencies, and parastatal companies. The Ministry of Interior controls a system of regional governors and prefects modeled on the French system of local administration. Under this system, Mauritania is divided into 13 regions (wilaya), including the capital district, Nouakchott. Control is tightly concentrated in the executive branch of the central government, but a series of national and municipal elections since 1992 have produced some decentralization

Politics in Mauritania have always been heavily influenced by personalities, with any leader's ability to exercise political power dependent upon control over resources; perceived ability or integrity; and tribal, ethnic, family, and personal considerations. Conflict among White Moor, Black Moor, and Black African Mauritanian groups, centering on language, land tenure, and other issues, continues to be a major challenge to national unity. Political parties, illegal during the military period, were legalized again in 1991.

Principal Government Officials
President--Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdellahi
Prime Minister--Sidi Mohamed Ould Boubacar
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation--Mohamed Saleck Ould Mohamed Lemine
Minister of Economic Affairs and Development--Hammada Ould Abed
Minister of Commerce, Handicrafts, and Tourism--Ba Abderrahmane

Mauritania maintains an embassy in the United States at 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel. 202-232-5700, fax 202-232-5701) and a Permanent Mission to the United Nations at 211 East 43rd Street, Suite 2000, New York, NY 10017 (tel. 212-986-7963, fax 212-986-8419).

 

Country name: conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Mauritania conventional short form: Mauritania local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah local short form: Muritaniyah Government type: republic Capital: name: Nouakchott geographic coordinates: 18 07 N, 16 02 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) 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 Islamic law and French civil law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Sidi Ould Cheikh ABDELLAHI (since 19 April 2007) head of government: Prime Minister Zeine Ould ZEIDANE (since 20 April 2007) cabinet: Council of Ministers elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second consecutive term); election last held 11 March 2007 with a runoff between the two leading candidates held on 25 March 2007 (next to be held 2012); prime minister appointed by the president election results: percent of vote - (second round) Sidi Ould Cheikh ABDELLAHI 52.8%, Ahmed Ould DADDAH 47.2% Legislative branch: bicameral legislature consists of the Senate or Majlis al-Shuyukh (56 seats; members elected by municipal leaders to serve six-year terms; a portion of seats up for election every two years) and the National Assembly or Majlis al-Watani (95 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 21 January and 4 February 2007 (next to be held 2009); National Assembly - last held 19 November and 3 December 2006 (next to be held in 2011) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Al-Mithaq (coalition of independents and parties associated with the former regime) 37, CFCD (coalition of political parties) 15, representatives of the diaspora (yet to be chosen) 3, undecided 1; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Al Mithaq 51 (independents 37, PRDR 7, UDP 3, RDU 3, Alternative (El-Badil) 1), CFCD 41 (RFD 16, UFP 9, APP 6, Centrist Reformists 4, HATEM-PMUC 3, RD 2, PUDS 1), RNDLE 1, UCD 1, FP 1 Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Court of Appeals; lower courts Political parties and leaders: Al-Mithaq (coalition of independents and parties associated with the former regime including Alternative or El-Badil, PRDR, UDP, RDU); Alternative or El-Badil; Centrist Reformists (independent moderate Islamists); Coalition for Forces for Democratic Change or CFCD (coalition of political parties including APP, Centrist Reformists (independent moderate Islamists), HATEM-PMUC, PUDS, RD, RFD, UFP); Democratic and Social Republican Party or PRDS; Democratic Renewal or RD; Mauritanian Party for Unity and Change or HATEM-PMUC; National Rally for Freedom, Democracy and Equality or RNDLE; 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]; Rally for Democracy and Unity or RDU [Ahmed Ould SIDI BABA]; Republican Party for Democracy and Renewal or PRDR [Boullah Ould MOGUEYA] (formerly ruling Democratic and Social Republican Party or PRDS); Socialist and Democratic Unity Party or PUDS; Union for Democracy and Progress or UDP [Naha Mint MOUKNASS]; Union of Democratic Centre or UCD; Union of the Forces for Progress or UFP Political pressure groups and leaders: Arab nationalists; Ba'thists; General Confederation of Mauritanian Workers or CGTM [Abdallahi Ould MOHAMED, secretary general]; Independent Confederation of Mauritanian Workers or CLTM [Samory Ould BEYE]; Islamists; Mauritanian Workers Union or UTM [Mohamed Ely Ould BRAHIM, secretary general] International organization participation: ABEDA, ACCT, 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, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO 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

 

Economy

GDP (2003): $1.1 billion. Annual growth rate (2003): 2.7%. Per capita income (2003): $430. Natural resources: petroleum, fish, iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphates, salt. Agriculture (19.3% of GDP 2003): Products--livestock, traditional fisheries, millet, maize, wheat, dates, rice. Industry (30% of GDP 2003): Types--iron mining, fishing. Services (50.8% of GDP 2003). Trade: Exports (f.o.b.)--$388 million (2003). Export partners--Japan 13%, France 10.9%, Spain 9.6%, Italy 9.5%, Germany 8.7%, Belgium 7.4%, China 5.8%, Russia 4.8% (2004). Imports--$418 million (2002): foodstuffs, machinery, tools, petroleum products, and consumer goods. Import partners--France 14.5%, U.S. 7.7%, China 7.4%, Spain 5.9%, Belgium 4.3%, U.K. 4.3% (2004). Currency: Ouguiya (UM). USAID: Total FY 2005 USAID assistance to Mauritania--$14,160,300.

Economy

 

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. In the past, drought and economic mismanagement resulted in a buildup of foreign debt, which now stands at more than three times the level of annual exports. In February 2000, Mauritania qualified for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative and in December 2001 received strong support from donor and lending countries at a triennial Consultative Group review. A new investment code approved in December 2001 improved the opportunities for direct foreign investment. Ongoing negotiations with the IMF involve problems of economic reforms and fiscal discipline. In 2001, exploratory oil wells in tracts 80 km offshore indicated potential extraction at current world oil prices. Mauritania has an estimated 1 billion barrels of proved reserves. Substantial oil production and exports began in early 2006 and averaged 75,000 barrels per day for the year. Meantime the government emphasizes reduction of poverty, improvement of health and education, and promoting privatization of the economy. GDP - real growth rate: 14.1% (2006 est.) GDP (purchasing power parity): $8.124 billion (2006 est.) GDP (official exchange rate): $1.569 billion (2006 est.) GDP - per capita (PPP): $2,600 (2006 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 25% industry: 29% services: 46% (2001 est.) Population below poverty line: 40% (2004 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 30.2% (2000) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (2003 est.) Labor force: 786,000 (2001) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 50% industry: 10% services: 40% (2001 est.) Unemployment rate: 20% (2004 est.) Budget: revenues: $421 million expenditures: $378 million; including capital expenditures of $154 million (2002 est.) Industries: fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum Industrial production growth rate: 2% (2000 est.) Electricity - production: 176.7 million kWh (2004) Electricity - consumption: 164.3 million kWh (2004) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2004) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2004) Oil - production: 75,000 bbl/day (2006 est.) Oil - consumption: 24,200 bbl/day (2004 est.) Oil - exports: NA bbl/day Oil - imports: NA bbl/day Oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2005) Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2004 est.) Agriculture - products: dates, millet, sorghum, rice, corn; cattle, sheep Exports: $784 million f.o.b. (2004 est.) Exports - commodities: iron ore, fish and fish products, gold Exports - partners: China 26.3%, Italy 11.8%, France 10.2%, Belgium 6.8%, Spain 6.7%, Japan 5.4%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.6% (2006) Imports: $1.124 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.) Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, petroleum products, capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods Imports - partners: France 11.9%, China 8.2%, US 6.8%, Belgium 6.7%, Italy 5.9%, Spain 5.5%, Brazil 4.1% (2006) Debt - external: $2.5 billion (2000) Economic aid - recipient: $305.7 million (2002) Currency: Mauritanian Ouguiya (MRO) Currency code: MRO Exchange rates: ouguiyas per US dollar - 271.3 (2006), 267.04 (2005), 265.8 (2004), 263.03 (2003), 271.74 (2002) Fiscal year: calendar year

 

Military

 

Military branches: Mauritanian Armed Forces: Army, Mauritanian Navy (Marine Mauritanienne; includes naval infantry), Air Force (Force Aerienne Islamique de Mauritanie, FAIM) (2007) 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 18-49: 606,463 females age 18-49: 607,955 (2005 est.) Manpower fit for military service: males age 18-49: 370,513 females age 18-49: 384,269 (2005 est.)