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 eleventh largest sovereign state in Africa and 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 derives its name from the ancient Berber kingdom of Mauretania, which existed from the 3rd century BCE into the 7th century CE in the modern-day Morocco and West Algeria. Prior to the Islamization of the area by Arab conquests in the 8th century, Mauritania was inhabited by Berbers since the 3rd century. Mauritania became a French colony during the European Scramble for Africa. Approximately 90% of Mauritania's land is within the Sahara; consequently, the population is concentrated in the south, where precipitation is slightly higher. The capital and largest city is Nouakchott, located on the Atlantic coast, which is home to around one-third of the country's 4 million people. The country's official religion is Islam, with almost the entire population being Sunni Muslims. Arabic is the official language, with French also widely used due to its colonial history. Mauritania's largest ethnic group is the Bidhan, or white moors who make up around half the population. The second-largest group is the Haratin, or black moors who make up approximately one-third of the population. The rest of the population consists primarily of various sub-Saharan peoples.
Despite an abundance of natural resources, Mauritania remains poor. The country's economy is based on agriculture and livestock, and major industries include mining (particularly iron ore), petroleum, and fishing.
After becoming independent from France in 1960 from French West Africa, Mauritania's independence has been characterized by recurrent coups and periods of authoritarian military rule, the most recent of which was in 2008 and led by General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz. On 16 April 2009, Aziz resigned from the military to run for president in the 19 July elections, which he won. The 2019 Mauritanian presidential election was reported as the country's first peaceful transition of power since independence.
Mauritania has been criticized for its poor human rights record, including for Mauritania's continued practice of slavery, a result of the historical caste system, 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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