Mauritania
- Abstract
- Summary
- Comparative Statistical Analysis
- Strengths and Weakness
- Instruments ratifications
- Historical Data
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Wikipedia Country Information
Mauritania ( (listen); Arabic: موريتانيا, Mūrītānyā, French: Mauritanie; Berber: Agawej or Cengit; Pulaar: 𞤃𞤮𞤪𞤭𞤼𞤢𞤲𞤭 Moritani; Wolof: Gànnaar; Soninke: Murutaane), officially the Islamic Republic of Mauritania (Arabic: الجمهورية الإسلامية الموريتانية), is a country in Northwest Africa. It is the twenty-eighth largest country or dependency in the world, the eleventh largest sovereign state in Africa and the largest country lying entirely below an altitude of 1,000 metres (3,300 ft). Mauritania is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Western Sahara to the north and northwest, Algeria to the northeast, Mali to the east and southeast, and Senegal to the southwest.
The country’s name derives from the name of the ancient Berber kingdom of Mauretania, located in present-day Morocco and Algeria. Berbers occupied the area that today is Mauritania beginning in the 3rd century CE, until Arabs invaded and conquered it in the 8th century, bringing Islam and Islamic culture with them. In the late 19th century, during European Scramble for Africa, Mauritania became a French colony. Mauritania became independent from French West Africa in 1960. Since then, it has experienced recurrent coups and periods of authoritarian military rule. The most recent coup, in 2008, was led by General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, who then won presidential elections in 2009 and 2014. Mohamed Ould Ghazouani's victory in the 2019 Mauritanian presidential election was presented as having been the country's first peaceful transition of power since independence.Approximately 90% of Mauritania's land is in the Sahara. As a result, most of its inhabitants live in the south of the country, where precipitation is slightly higher. The capital and largest city is Nouakchott, located on the Atlantic coast. It is home to around one-third of the country's 4 million people. Arabic is the official language. French is also widely spoken, due to Mauritania’s history as a colony of France. Mauritania’s official religion is Islam, and almost all its inhabitants are Sunni Muslims. The country’s largest ethnic group is the Bidhan, or so-called “white moors,” who make up around half the population. The second-largest group is the Haratin, or so-called “black moors,” who make up around one-third of the population. The rest of the inhabitants, for the most part, belong to sub-Saharan ethnic groups. Despite an abundance of natural resources, Mauritania remains poor. The country's economy is based on agriculture and livestock. Its major industries include mining (particularly iron ore), petroleum production, and fishing.
Mauritania has been criticized for its poor human rights record, including for Mauritania's continued practice of slavery, a result of a historical caste system between the Bidhan and Haratin, despite abolishing it in 1981 as the last country in the world to do so and criminalizing it in 2007. There have also been allegations of systematic torture by Mauritanian law enforcement.
Instruments ratified: | 92 / 282 |
---|---|
World Average Ratifications: | 114 / 282 |
Ratification rate: | 35.20% |
World Average Rate: | 41.25% |
Weighted score: | 38.10% |
World Average Weighted Score: | 41.25% |
World rank: | 122 / 194 |
Least developed countries rank: | 16 / 48 |
Least developed countries Avg. Ratifications: | 79 / 282 |
Western Africa rank: | 13 / 16 |
Western Africa Avg. Ratifications: | 103 / 282 |
CONTRACTS | Inst. ratified | Country score | World avg. score | Country rank in world | Strength |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Agency | 0/2 | 0.00% | 2.00% | 8 | Weak |
Conflict of laws | 0/7 | 0.00% | 3.00% | 27 | Weak |
E-commerce | 0/3 | 0.00% | 18.00% | 70 | Weak |
Franchising | 0/1 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 1 | Average |
Leasing/Factoring | 0/2 | 0.00% | 5.00% | 13 | Weak |
Principles, trade usages and standards | 0/2 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 1 | Average |
Procurement | 0/4 | 0.00% | 3.00% | 31 | Weak |
Sale of Goods | 1/5 (20.00%) | 45.45% | 25.00% | 29 | Strong |
Travel contracts | 0/1 | 0.00% | 3.00% | 7 | Weak |
Total | 1 | 7.25% | 9.00% | 94 | Weak |
CUSTOMS | Inst. ratified | Country score | World avg. score | Country rank in world | Strength |
Customs Codification | 3/3 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 78.00% | 1 | Strong |
Customs Cooperation | 0/6 | 0.00% | 26.00% | 117 | Weak |
Exemption from Duties | 0/9 | 0.00% | 30.00% | 133 | Weak |
Temporary Admission | 0/11 | 0.00% | 28.00% | 126 | Weak |
Transit | 0/4 | 0.00% | 28.00% | 98 | Weak |
Total | 3 | 5.43% | 31.00% | 151 | Weak |
DISPUTE RESOLUTION | Inst. ratified | Country score | World avg. score | Country rank in world | Strength |
Arbitration | 1/6 (16.67%) | 25.00% | 32.00% | 86 | Weak |
Judicial cooperation | 0/5 | 0.00% | 36.00% | 119 | Weak |
Recognition of foreign judgments | 0/2 | 0.00% | 2.00% | 6 | Weak |
State court jurisdiction | 0/4 | 0.00% | 14.00% | 29 | Weak |
State court procedure | 0/1 | 0.00% | 6.00% | 12 | Weak |
State immunities | 0/1 | 0.00% | 11.00% | 22 | Weak |
Total | 1 | 10.00% | 29.00% | 132 | Weak |
ENVIRONMENT AND PRODUCTS | Inst. ratified | Country score | World avg. score | Country rank in world | Strength |
Air | 4/5 (80.00%) | 80.00% | 86.00% | 59 | Weak |
Chemicals | 1/1 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 78.00% | 1 | Strong |
Energy | 0/2 | 0.00% | 25.00% | 50 | Weak |
Flora and fauna | 7/10 (70.00%) | 71.74% | 68.00% | 72 | Weak |
Foodstuff | 2/2 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 79.00% | 1 | Strong |
General | 1/1 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 95.00% | 1 | Weak |
International watercourses | 0/1 | 0.00% | 18.00% | 36 | Weak |
Maritime and Law of the Sea | 13/26 (50.00%) | 53.26% | 46.00% | 82 | Strong |
Protected geographical areas | 0/1 | 0.00% | 27.00% | 54 | Weak |
Waste | 1/1 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 93.00% | 1 | Weak |
Total | 29 | 65.10% | 61.00% | 84 | Weak |
FINANCE, PAYMENTS AND INSOLVENCY | Inst. ratified | Country score | World avg. score | Country rank in world | Strength |
Assignment of receivables | 0/1 | 0.00% | 1.00% | 2 | Weak |
Bankruptcy and insolvency | 0/1 | 0.00% | 21.00% | 41 | Weak |
Bills of exchange and promissory notes | 0/4 | 0.00% | 8.00% | 43 | Weak |
Cheques | 0/3 | 0.00% | 13.00% | 36 | Weak |
Credit transfers | 0/1 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 1 | Average |
International guarantees | 0/3 | 0.00% | 20.00% | 75 | Weak |
Total | 0 | 0.00% | 12.00% | 117 | Weak |
GOOD GOVERNANCE | Inst. ratified | Country score | World avg. score | Country rank in world | Strength |
Corruption | 1/4 (25.00%) | 41.67% | 50.00% | 92 | Weak |
Cultural Property | 2/4 (50.00%) | 50.00% | 54.00% | 61 | Weak |
Drugs | 3/3 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 95.00% | 1 | Weak |
Insider Trading | 0/1 | 0.00% | 4.00% | 9 | Weak |
Organized crime | 2/2 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 80.00% | 1 | Strong |
Total | 8 | 69.23% | 68.00% | 86 | Weak |
HUMAN RIGHTS AND LABOUR STANDARDS | Inst. ratified | Country score | World avg. score | Country rank in world | Strength |
Human Rights | 7/7 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 96.00% | 1 | Weak |
Labour Standards | 8/8 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 86.00% | 1 | Strong |
Total | 15 | 100.00% | 91.00% | 1 | Average |
INSTITUTIONAL PARTICIPATION | Inst. ratified | Country score | World avg. score | Country rank in world | Strength |
Dispute Resolution | 0/1 | 0.00% | 39.00% | 77 | Weak |
International Trade Law | 7/10 (70.00%) | 70.00% | 73.00% | 84 | Weak |
Trade support institutions | 1/6 (16.67%) | 16.67% | 51.00% | 146 | Weak |
Total | 8 | 47.06% | 63.00% | 126 | Weak |
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY | Inst. ratified | Country score | World avg. score | Country rank in world | Strength |
Broadcasting | 0/1 | 0.00% | 47.00% | 93 | Weak |
Copyright | 1/3 (33.33%) | 45.45% | 65.00% | 112 | Weak |
Industrial designs | 0/2 | 0.00% | 31.00% | 82 | Weak |
Integrated circuits | 0/1 | 0.00% | 2.00% | 4 | Weak |
Neighboring Rights | 0/3 | 0.00% | 46.00% | 120 | Weak |
Origin | 0/3 | 0.00% | 14.00% | 51 | Weak |
Patents | 2/5 (40.00%) | 47.62% | 57.00% | 87 | Weak |
Trademarks | 0/6 | 0.00% | 33.00% | 124 | Weak |
Varieties of plants | 0/1 | 0.00% | 37.00% | 73 | Weak |
Total | 3 | 15.79% | 42.00% | 148 | Weak |
INVESTMENTS | Inst. ratified | Country score | World avg. score | Country rank in world | Strength |
Investment disputes | 1/2 (50.00%) | 50.00% | 39.00% | 2 | Strong |
Investment guaranty | 1/1 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 93.00% | 1 | Weak |
Total | 2 | 66.67% | 57.00% | 2 | Strong |
PRODUCTS | Inst. ratified | Country score | World avg. score | Country rank in world | Strength |
Marine Resources | 1/1 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 24.00% | 1 | Strong |
Timber | 0/1 | 0.00% | 31.00% | 61 | Weak |
General | 1/1 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 92.00% | 1 | Weak |
Total | 2 | 61.54% | 53.00% | 61 | Strong |
TRANSPORT AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS | Inst. ratified | Country score | World avg. score | Country rank in world | Strength |
Air transport | 2/7 (28.57%) | 38.10% | 59.00% | 143 | Weak |
Aircrafts and civil aviation | 7/9 (77.78%) | 92.00% | 74.00% | 11 | Strong |
Maritime shipping and load lines | 5/13 (38.46%) | 60.00% | 66.00% | 139 | Weak |
Maritime transport | 5/12 (41.67%) | 29.17% | 27.00% | 87 | Weak |
Multi modal transport | 0/2 | 0.00% | 4.00% | 15 | Weak |
Rail transport | 0/3 | 0.00% | 22.00% | 50 | Weak |
Road transport | 0/4 | 0.00% | 31.00% | 86 | Weak |
Space | 0/4 | 0.00% | 40.00% | 120 | Weak |
Telecommunications | 0/2 | 0.00% | 47.00% | 114 | Weak |
Total | 19 | 39.86% | 50.00% | 132 | Weak |
TREATIES LAW | Inst. ratified | Country score | World avg. score | Country rank in world | Strength |
General | 0/4 | 0.00% | 30.00% | 113 | Weak |
Total | 0 | 0.00% | 30.00% | 113 | Weak |
WTO | Inst. ratified | Country score | World avg. score | Country rank in world | Strength |
Plurilateral Agreements | 0/2 | 0.00% | 18.00% | 45 | Weak |
WTO Agreements | 1/1 (100.00%) | 100.00% | 81.00% | 1 | Strong |
Total | 1 | 45.45% | 47.00% | 45 | Weak |
Strong | |
---|---|
Contracts | Sale of Goods |
Customs | Customs Codification |
Environment and products | Chemicals |
Environment and products | Foodstuff |
Environment and products | Maritime and Law of the Sea |
Good Governance | Organized crime |
Human Rights and Labour Standards | Labour Standards |
Investments | Investment disputes |
Products | Marine Resources |
Transport and telecommunications | Aircrafts and civil aviation |
WTO | WTO Agreements |
Average | |
Contracts | Franchising |
Contracts | Principles, trade usages and standards |
Finance, payments and insolvency | Credit transfers |
Weak | |
Contracts | Agency |
Contracts | Conflict of laws |
Contracts | E-commerce |
Contracts | Leasing/Factoring |
Contracts | Procurement |
Contracts | Travel contracts |
Customs | Customs Cooperation |
Customs | Exemption from Duties |
Customs | Temporary Admission |
Customs | Transit |
Dispute resolution | Arbitration |
Dispute resolution | Judicial cooperation |
Dispute resolution | Recognition of foreign judgments |
Dispute resolution | State court jurisdiction |
Dispute resolution | State court procedure |
Dispute resolution | State immunities |
Environment and products | Air |
Environment and products | Energy |
Environment and products | Flora and fauna |
Environment and products | General |
Environment and products | International watercourses |
Environment and products | Protected geographical areas |
Environment and products | Waste |
Finance, payments and insolvency | Assignment of receivables |
Finance, payments and insolvency | Bankruptcy and insolvency |
Finance, payments and insolvency | Bills of exchange and promissory notes |
Finance, payments and insolvency | Cheques |
Finance, payments and insolvency | International guarantees |
Good Governance | Corruption |
Good Governance | Cultural Property |
Good Governance | Drugs |
Good Governance | Insider Trading |
Human Rights and Labour Standards | Human rights |
Institutional Participation | Dispute Resolution |
Institutional Participation | International Trade Law |
Institutional Participation | Trade support institutions |
Intellectual property | Broadcasting |
Intellectual property | Copyright |
Intellectual property | Industrial designs |
Intellectual property | Integrated circuits |
Intellectual property | Neighboring Rights |
Intellectual property | Origin |
Intellectual property | Patents |
Intellectual property | Trademarks |
Intellectual property | Varieties of plants |
Investments | Investment guaranty |
Products | General |
Products | Timber |
Transport and telecommunications | Air transport |
Transport and telecommunications | Maritime shipping and load lines |
Transport and telecommunications | Maritime transport |
Transport and telecommunications | Multi modal transport |
Transport and telecommunications | Rail transport |
Transport and telecommunications | Road transport |
Transport and telecommunications | Space |
Transport and telecommunications | Telecommunications |
Treaties law | General |
WTO | Plurilateral Agreements |
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