History History

Appearance of the first human traces: although no skeletons dating from this period have been found in Mauritania, the analysis of bone remains found further north and south as well as the technical characteristics of the tools found on Paleolithic sites allow us to suggest a cohabitation of white men, who came from North Africa, and melanodermal men who came from the south or the east, these population movements being linked to the climatic variations of the Sahara, which was not always a desert. There was a temperate, humid and green Sahara! The way of life of the Saharan Paleolithic remains unknown for the time being, nevertheless fossil remains and stone tools testify to their presence (pebbles, bifaces).

Arrival of a population of hunter-fishermen from the south (Bafours), attracted by the temperate climate, the fertility of the land and the presence of game, fish and shellfish. The population of the villages of the Aouker cliff is estimated at 400,000 people in the Neolithic period, while today there are only about 800 inhabitants in Tichitt or Oualata!

Discovery of ceramics: at that time, around the water points, clay was abundant. The pottery was turned by hand and assembled with a pellet to create a wide variety of shapes, from bowls to jars, including water containers. During this same period, three new activities revolutionized the Neolithic era: animal husbandry and agriculture, leading to a gradual sedentarization, and thus a need for construction and architecture.

In 2000 B.C., the Neolithic era came to an end: the region became progressively desertified, which led the populations to migrate south again.

The dromedary replaces the horse, an animal that is now too fragile in the dry and arid Sahara. The camel is the instrument of Berber domination, much more resistant to the difficult conditions offered by the desert.

At the same time, copper mines were discovered in Akjoujt, allowing the manufacture of more efficient weapons and tools.

Creation of the Empire of Ghana by the Soninke, an animist people living at the southern edge of the Sahara. Initially called Wagadou, this small kingdom later expanded to become the first of the three great empires marking West Africa.

In 734, the first Arab-Berbers overthrew the power in the Ghana Empire. Their occupation favored the trans-Saharan trade in gold, slaves and salt, contributing to the expansion of the kingdom, which then extended from the Niger delta to the upper Senegal valley.

Foundation of the Almoravid Empire by tribes of Saharan Berbers. These brotherhoods of warrior monks set out to propagate an austere Islam from Mauritania to the Iberian Peninsula, via Mali.

In 1054, the Muslim Almoravids took Aoudaghost, the economic capital of the Ghana Empire.

In 1077, it was the turn of the capital, Koumbi Saleh, to fall to Abu Bekr (leader of the Almoravids). The region welcomed more and more merchants from the Maghreb and Islam naturally took root south of the Sahara, including among the black African populations: the holy war was thus won.

In 1147, it was the end of the domination of the Muslim Almoravids.

At the end of the century, Mauritania became an extension of Mali and Sanghey, which were then two great empires.

Second wave of Arabization led by Hassan tribes, coming from Upper Egypt, who imposed their language, Hassaniya.

The gold and slave trade was gradually diverted to the Atlantic coasts and intensified: the first European (Portuguese) trading post was established in the Bay of Arguin. A trading post was a departure point for the slave trade.

Annexation of the Mauritanian shore of Lake Senegal by the French engineer and governor of Senegal, Louis Faidherbe.

The French state creates Western Mauritania.

Mauritania became a military territory belonging to France.

The entire Mauritanian territory was occupied by France (the extreme north of the country still resisted...). Mauritania became a colony of French West Africa (AOF). It was administered from Saint-Louis in Senegal.

From being a colony of the AOF, Mauritania changed its status to that of an overseas territory of the French Republic.

Nouakchott became the capital of Mauritania.

That same year, the first clashes between the National Liberation Army and the French army.

The Islamic Republic of Mauritania was proclaimed. However, it remained within the French Community: it was granted the status of an autonomous republic.

Moktar Ould Daddah, president of the provisional government of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, proclaimed his country's independence.

The new constitution established a presidential regime. Two months later, the first president of Mauritania was elected, in the person of Moktar Ould Daddah.

Mauritania obtained a new currency, the ouguiya. It then left the CFA franc zone, a currency adopted under French colonization. The same year, Mauritania became a member of the Arab League.

Mauritania occupied part of the Western Sahara, which had been left by the Spaniards. A conflict then began with the Polisario Front, a Sahrawi nationalist movement that advocated independence for Western Sahara. In 1979, Mauritania and the Polisario Front signed a cease-fire. Mauritania abandoned its claims to part of the Western Sahara in favor of Morocco, which moved into the areas formerly coveted by Mauritania.

Ould Daddah was overthrown by a coup d'état led by Mustapha Ould Saleck. In 1980, a civilian government was formed.

Official abolition of slavery.

Following a new coup d'état, Colonel Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya took over as head of Mauritania.

Relations between Mauritania and Senegal broke down following a conflict between Senegalese farmers and Mauritanian Fulani herders. Violent riots broke out in both capitals in the last week of April. On May 3, the Moorish government expelled the entire Senegalese community from its territory, including Mauritanians of Senegalese origin.

The first multiparty presidential election was won by Colonel Maaouiya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya, who had led the country since his 1984 coup.
In March of the same year, the first multiparty legislative election was held.

In 1997, President Maaouiya Ould Taya won a second term in office, winning the election again.

The first serious coup attempt against Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya failed.

In November of the same year, the president was re-elected for a third term. This was the starting point for numerous social movements and attempted coups, which shook the country until Taya was overthrown in August 2005. The new strongman of Mauritania was then Colonel Ely Ould Mohamed Vall.

March 25 saw the country's first presidential election with a runoff, which resulted in a victory for Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi.
In April, Mauritania rejoined the African Union, having been excluded in 2005 because of a coup d'état.
In December in Aleg, in the south of the country, four members of the same family, French tourists, were assassinated. Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) claimed responsibility for the murders, which placed Mauritania in a red zone by French diplomacy.

A new coup d'état took place in August, without violence. President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi was ousted by General Mohammed Ould Abdel Aziz, who installed a civilian transitional government. The diplomat Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf, former ambassador to Brussels, heads it.
In September, in northern Mauritania, 12 soldiers are killed by the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)... This is the call to holy war, which Mauritania will not join.

In July, Abdel Aziz was declared the winner of the presidential elections, following a disputed vote.

He was re-elected on June 21, 2014, with 82% of the vote.

Interior ministers from the Sahel Group of Five (G5 Sahel) create a cooperation platform in Nouakchott to fight terrorism. The G5 Sahel includes Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad.

Parliament passes a new law toughening the crackdown on slavery, considered a crime against humanity in the country since 2012.

End of the national dialogue between the majority and some opposition parties: presidential term limits are maintained.

Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz supported retired general and former defense minister Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, who was elected in the first round of presidential elections with 52.01% of the vote. For the first time, a transfer of power took place without a coup d'état! At least since the country's independence in 1960. An illusion of democracy to be qualified however: while demonstrations broke out, led by opposition activists, after the announcement of the victory of the presidential candidate, they were arrested to put an end to this uproar. At the same time, the Internet network was cut off: Mauritania recovered the connection a few days later, restored by the government...

A draft law on combating violence against women and girls was approved by the Council of Ministers in response to Mauritanian protests demanding the criminalization of rape and violence against women and girls.

Charged with corruption since March 2021, the trial against former Mauritanian president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz and several senior officials opens in January 2023. The former president is being prosecuted on suspicion of personal enrichment.