Mauritania

[mawr-i-tey-nee-uh]

noun

1. Official Name Islamic Republic of Mauritania. a republic in western Africa, largely in the Sahara Desert: formerly a French colony; a member of the French Community 1958–66; independent 1960. 418,120 sq. mi. (1,082,931 sq. km). Nouakchott.

2. Mauretania.

Mauritania

/ ˌmɒrɪˈteɪnɪə /

noun

1. Official name: Islamic Republic of Mauritania. a republic in NW Africa, on the Atlantic: established as a French protectorate in 1903 and a colony in 1920; gained independence in 1960; lies in the Sahara; contains rich resources of iron ore. Official language: Arabic; Fulani, Soninke, Wolof, and French are also spoken. Official religion: Muslim. Currency: ouguiya. Capital: Nouakchott. Pop: 3 437 610 (2013 est). Area: 1 030 700 sq km (398 000 sq miles)

Other Word Forms

• Mauritanian adjective

Example Sentences

The company says an environmental and social impact assessment approved in 2018 concluded that the loss of potential fishing grounds in Mauritania and Senegal as a result of the gas project would be "negligible".

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They are said to have torched fuel tankers, lorries and buses, abducted foreign drivers and attacked convoys carrying fuel imports from Senegal and Mauritania.

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At least 69 people have died and many more are missing after a boat capsized off the coast of Mauritania, coastguards in the north-west African country have said.

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On 1 July, the group said it had carried out a major coordinated attack on seven military locations in western Mali, including near the borders with Senegal and Mauritania.

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There were also attacks further north, near Mali's frontier with Mauritania.

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