Rights
1991 Constitution declaring an Islamic republic with sharia as the source of law
The Constitution of 20 July 1991, revised in 2006, 2012 and 2017, establishes an Islamic republic in which Islam is the religion of the state and people and sharia is the source of law. The 2017 revision abolished the Senate, replacing it with regional councils.
Key rules
- Jurisdiction — The Conseil constitutionnel reviews constitutionality; the Cour suprême heads the ordinary courts.
- Deadline — Constitutional review: on referral to the Conseil constitutionnel before promulgation
Governing law
- Constitution du 20 juillet 1991revised 2006, 2012, 2017
- Loi constitutionnelle n° 2017-022 portant révision de la Constitution
- Ordonnance organique sur le Conseil constitutionnel
In practice
Mauritania is one of a small number of states whose constitution designates sharia as the source of legislation rather than merely a source, which conditions the interpretation of every other code. The 2017 abolition of the Senate by referendum, after the Senate itself had rejected the amendment, was constitutionally contentious and remains the principal domestic critique of the current settlement.