FACTBOX-Muslim Mauritania straddles black and Arab Africa
16 Nov 2006 13:37:46 GMT Source: Reuters
Nov 16 (Reuters) - Here are some key facts about Mauritania, which holds legislative elections on Sunday: * THE COUNTRY: GEOGRAPHY: Most of Mauritania is desert. At 1,025,220 sq km, it is almost twice as big as former colonial power France, but has little more than 800 km (500 miles) of paved roads. POPULATION: Almost all of Mauritania's 3.1 million people are Muslims and it is officially an Islamic Republic. Light-skinned Moors have dominated government since independence in 1960. Black Africans make up about one third of the population. ECONOMY: Main products are fish, livestock and iron ore, though offshore oil reserves promise to revolutionise the economy. Average annual per capita income was $430 in 2003, according to World Bank statistics. Average life expectancy is 52 years. * WHAT HAS HAPPENED: November 1960 - Mauritania becomes independent from France as the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, with Moktar Ould Daddah as president. 1975 - Mauritania is declared an Islamic Socialist Republic. Dec. 1984 - After a number of coup attempts in Mauritania, Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya seizes power and proclaims himself president. Almost two years later, Taya imposes sharia law. Jan. 1992 - Taya is elected president with nearly 63 percent of the vote under a new 1991 constitution permitting multiple political parties, but opposition candidates denounce victory as fraudulent. Taya is re-elected 1997 and 2003 after another coup attempt in June that year. Aug. 2005 - Mauritania's army seizes power to end the "totalitarian" regime of Taya, who was out of the country, and says it plans to rule for up to two years. In November, the 17-member junta pledges to hold presidential elections in March 2007, five months ahead of schedule. June 2006 - In a referendum meant to end decades of coup attempts, voters overwhelmingly back constitutional changes ensuring no president can serve for more than a decade.
