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Mauritania

Islamic Republic of Mauritania

Mixed (Islamic law and French civil law)Unitary presidential republicReviewed· 2026-08-03
Capital
Nouakchott
Population
4,900,000
Languages
Arabic, French
Currency
MRU

Mauritania · Government

Government and administration in Mauritania

How the executive, legislature and administrative state are organised, and which body is responsible for what.

The three branches

Executive — President and Council of Ministers
Five-year term, renewable once.
Legislative — National Assembly
Unicameral, 176 deputies; the Senate was abolished in 2017.
Judicial — Cour suprême and Conseil constitutionnel
Conseil supérieur de la magistrature governs the career.
Local — Regional councils
Created in 2017 to replace the Senate's representative role.

How legislation is made

Bills are examined in committee and voted by the National Assembly, then promulgated by the President. The Conseil constitutionnel may be seised before promulgation.

Enforcement institutions

Police nationale and Gendarmerie
Policing under Interior and Defence ministries.
Parquet
Prosecution service attached to the courts.
Cour des comptes
Public finance audit.

Government bodies and regulators

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