Beni Ḥassan ( Arabic : بني حسان "sons of Ḥassān") is a Bedouin Arab tribe which inhabits Western Sahara , Mauritania , Morocco and Algeria . It is one of the four sub-tribes of the Banu Maqil who emigrated in the 11th century from South Arabia to the Maghreb with the Banu Hilal and Banu Sulaym Arab tribes. In the 13th century, they took the Sanhaja territories in the southwest of the Sahara . In Morocco, they first settled, alongside their Maqil relatives, in the area between Tadla and the Moulouya River . The Sous Almohad governor called upon them for help against a rebellion in the Sous, and they resettled in and around that region. They later moved to what is today Mauritania, and from the 16th century onwards, they managed to push back all black peoples southwards to the Senegal Valley river. The Beni Hassan and other warrior Arab tribes dominated the Sanhaja Berber tribes of the area after the Char Bouba war of the 17th century. As a result, Arabs became the dominant ethnic group in Western Sahara and Mauretania. The Bani Hassan dialect of Arabic became used in the region and is still spoken, in the form of Hassaniya Arabic . The hierarchy established by the Beni Hassan tribe gave Mauritania much of its sociological character. That ideology has led to oppression, discrimination and even enslavement of other groups in Mauritania.
86-630: Beni Hassan are one of the four sub-tribes of Beni Maqil who emigrated to the Maghreb in the 11th century. The exact origin of the Beni Maqil tribe is unknown, although it has been established that they most likely originated in South Arabia ( Yemen ). The Maqil claimed Hashemite descent from Ja'far ibn Abi Talib , while some Arabian genealogists categorized them as Hilalians . Ibn Khaldun said both of these versions are false and that Maqil
172-515: A 52% majority. Many of Abdallahi's former supporters criticized this as a political ploy and refused to recognize the results. Despite complaints, the elections were almost unanimously accepted by Western, Arab and African countries, which lifted sanctions and resumed relations with Mauritania. By late summer, Abdel Aziz appeared to have secured his position and to have gained widespread international and internal support. Some figures, such as Senate chairman Messaoud Ould Boulkheir , continued to refuse
258-564: A Zenata chief as a symbol of the dual character of the Makhzen . In the 14th and 15th centuries, the nomadic Arab tribes of Banu Ma'qil moved into Mauritania and were over time able to establish complete dominance over the Berbers after defeating both Berbers and Black Africans in the region and pushing them to the Senegal river . An extensive Arabization of Mauritania started following
344-682: A battle with the sultan, Ibn Zyan , When the Marinids replaced the Zayyanids, the Kharaj remained faithful to the Zayyanids since they had given them tax collection privileges. The Marinid Sultan, Abu al-Hassan then stripped them of these acquired advantages and gave them instead to the Beni Iznassen tribe, which resulted in a rebellion by the Kharaj which killed the Marinid governor of
430-647: A destructive capacity for the nations they attacked. The Bedouin tribes were sent into the Maghreb by the Fatimids to punish the Zirids for switching allegiance to the rival Abbasid Caliphate . They were compared to Mughal warriors centuries later. They adapted perfectly to the climatic desert conditions of the Maghreb, discovering the same way of life as in the Arabian Peninsula. The Banu Sulaym opposed
516-540: A negligible player in the territorial dispute, with its official position being that it wishes for an expedient solution that is mutually agreeable to all parties. While most of Western Sahara has been occupied by Morocco, the UN still considers the Western Sahara a territory that needs to express its wishes with respect to statehood. A referendum, originally scheduled for 1992, is still supposed to be held at some point in
602-638: A prestigious Hashemite descent from Ja'far ibn Abu Talib , son of Abu Talib and brother of Ali ibn Abu Talib . Some Arabian genealogists categorized them as Hilalians . Ibn Khaldun hypothesized that both of these versions are false, since the Hashemites lived in urban cities and weren't nomadic nor ever wandered in the desert. He added that the Ma'qil is a name only found in Yemen. Ibn Khaldun said that they were likely an Arab nomadic group from Yemen, and this
688-669: A region in the ancient Maghreb . It extended from central present-day Algeria to the Atlantic . Berbers occupied what is now Mauritania by beginning of the third century AD. Groups of Arab tribes migrated to this area in the late seventh century, bringing with them Islam, Arab culture, and the Arabic language. In the early 20th century, Mauritania was colonized by France as part of French West Africa . It achieved independence in 1960, but has since experienced recurrent coups and periods of military dictatorship. The 2008 Mauritanian coup d'état
774-415: A result, Abdallahi formally resigned under protest, as it became clear that some opposition forces had defected from him and most international players, notably including France and Algeria, now aligned with Abdel Aziz. The United States continued to criticize the coup, but did not actively oppose the elections. Abdallahi's resignation allowed the election of Abdel Aziz as civilian president, on 18 July, by
860-590: Is also a Beni Hassan Bedouin tribe in northern Jordan . Beni Hassan's descendants and other tribes that arrived from Yemen in the 13th century are considered among the clean-blooded Arab tribes. For example, the Oulad Delim who trace their origin back to Beni Hassan are the most populous tribe in Western Sahara and consider themselves the cleanest blooded Arabs in the Sahel . Various sources point to
946-655: Is known as the Char Bouba War . The invaders were led by the Beni Hassan tribe. The descendants of the Beni Hassan warriors became the upper stratum of Moorish society. Hassaniya , a bedouin Arabic dialect named for the Beni Hassan, became the dominant language among the largely nomadic population. Starting in the late 19th century, France laid claim to the territories of present-day Mauritania, from
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#17327660634741032-469: Is most likely an Arab nomadic group from Yemen. The tradition of Beni Hassan states that they were descendants of Hasan ibn Ali , son of Ali ibn Abi Talib , Muhammad 's son-in-law and a leading figure in Shia Islam , although the Beni Hassan were Sunni Muslims . The Sahrawi nation includes the Beni Hassan as part of its founding peoples and Hassaniya Arabic as part of its national identity. There
1118-513: Is multiethnic; the Bidhan , or so-called "white moors", make up 30% of the population, while the Haratin , or so-called "black moors", comprise 40%. Both groups reflect a fusion of Arab-Berber ethnicity, language, and culture. The remaining 30% of the population comprises various sub-Saharan ethnic groups . Mauritania takes its name from the ancient Berber kingdom that flourished beginning in
1204-606: Is not known but the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that, as of June 1991, 52,995 Mauritanian refugees were living in Senegal and at least 13,000 in Mali. Opposition parties were legalized, and a new Constitution approved in 1991 which put an end to formal military rule. But President Ould Taya's election wins were dismissed as fraudulent by some opposition groups. In
1290-882: Is supported by Ibn al-Kalbi and Ibn Said . Ibn Khaldun noted "the origin of the Ma'qil tribe is from the Arabs of Yemen , and their grandfather is Rabi'a bin Ka'b bin Rabi'a bin Ka'b bin al-Harith, and from al-Harith bin Ka'b bin 'Amr bin 'Ulah bin Jald bin Madhhij bin Adad bin Zayd bin Kahlan ". The Banu Ubayd Allah descended from Ubayd Allah bin Sahir (or Saqil), son of the Ma'qil forefather. They were
1376-599: The Barghawata by the Almohads. The migration and presence of Arab nomads led to further Arabic influence and added an important element to the local power equation, of which when one of the Marinid sultans went in public procession, he was escorted by a Zenata on one side and an Arab on the other. The Kharaj of Banu Ubayd Allah initially opposed the Zayyanids , but later allied with them after they were defeated in
1462-706: The Draa valley. At one time they controlled the area between the Moulouya river and Sijilmasa , in addition to Taza and Tadla . They were the second most numerous Ma'qil sub-tribe after the Beni Ubayd Allah. The Banu Hassan descended from Hassan bin Mokhtar bin Mohamed, the second son of the Ma'qil forefather. They were thus the cousins of Beni Mansour. The Banu Hassan sub-tribe is, however, not limited to
1548-661: The Maghreb region of North Africa with the Banu Hilal and Banu Sulaym tribes in the 11th century. They mainly settled in and around the Saharan wolds and oases of Morocco ; in Tafilalt , Wad Nun (near Guelmim ), Draa and Taourirt . With the Ma'qil being a Bedouin tribe that originated in the Arabian Peninsula , like Banu Hilal and Banu Sulaym, they adapted perfectly to the climatic desert conditions of
1634-696: The Maqil tribe as the origin from which the Beni Hassan tribe was formed. The Ma'qils entered the Maghreb during the wave of emigration of the Arabian tribes in the 11th century, and since then, they were situated in North Africa together with other Bedouin Arab tribes that migrated from the Arabian Peninsula such as the Banu Hilal and the Banu Sulaym , with whom they shared great skill as warriors and
1720-583: The Military Committee for National Salvation . The energetic Colonel Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidallah soon emerged as its strongman. By giving up all claims to Western Sahara, he found peace with the Polisario and improved relations with its main backer, Algeria, but relations with Morocco, the other party to the conflict, and its European ally France, deteriorated. Instability continued, and Haidallah's ambitious reform attempts foundered. His regime
1806-811: The Rahamna , who were brought north to respond to the military needs of the Saadian Sultanate in the early 16th century. Two of the prominent Hassani communities during the late 'Alawi period were the Jaysh al-Udaya and the Shabbanat. The former were invited by the sultan of Morocco Ismail Ibn Sharif (1672–1727), while the latter controlled Marrakesh when sultan Al-Rashid arrived to conquer it. Historical accounts report that these Hassani communities enriched themselves by collecting tolls from trade caravans and extorting farming and herding villages settled in
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#17327660634741892-682: The Senegal River area northwards. In 1901, Xavier Coppolani took charge of the imperial mission. Through a combination of strategic alliances with Zawaya tribes and military pressure on the Hassane warrior nomads, he managed to extend French rule over the Mauritanian emirates . Beginning in 1903 and 1904, the French armies succeeded in occupying Trarza , Brakna , and Tagant , but the northern emirate of Adrar held out longer, aided by
1978-749: The Sous was a result of the Almohad governor of this region who invited them to fight for him when a rebellion broke out. The Thaaliba were the descendants of Thaalab bin Ali bin Bakr bin Sahir (or Saqir or Suhair) son of the Ma'qil forefather. This sub-tribe settled in a region close to Algiers , the Mitidja plain. They came to rule Algiers from 1204 to 1516 until the Ottomans took over control from Salim al-Tumi in
2064-467: The capture of Algiers . The Ma'qils entered the Maghreb during the wave of emigration of the Arabian tribes ( Banu Hilal , Banu Sulaym , etc.) in the 11th century. They adapted to the climatic desert conditions of the Maghreb, discovering the same way of life as in the Arabian Peninsula. The Banu Sulaym opposed their arrival and fought them off. They later allied with the Banu Hilal and entered under their protection, which enabled them to wander in
2150-548: The southern part of Western Sahara , framed as an attempt to create a " Greater Mauritania ". Col. Mustafa Ould Salek 's Military Committee for National Recovery junta proved incapable of either establishing a strong base of power or extracting the country from its destabilizing conflict with the Sahrawi resistance movement, the Polisario Front . It quickly fell, to be replaced by another military government,
2236-663: The Arab victory in the Char Bouba war in 1677. Mauritania This is an accepted version of this page Mauritania , formally the Islamic Republic of Mauritania , is a sovereign country in Northwest Africa . It 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
2322-452: The BASEP (Presidential Security Battalion) came to our home and took away my father." The coup plotters, all dismissed in a presidential decree shortly beforehand, included Ould Abdel Aziz, General Muhammad Ould Al-Ghazwani , General Philippe Swikri, and Brigadier General (Aqid) Ahmed Ould Bakri. A Mauritanian lawmaker, Mohammed Al Mukhtar, claimed that many of the country's people supported
2408-613: The Beni Hassan defeated the Marabout Berbers, and after achieving political and military hegemony in the area, they founded the emirates of Trarza , Brakna , Tagant , Adrar and Hodh. The marabouts were Berbers who followed the Islamic doctrine of Nasr al-Din imposed in Senegal in the mid-17th century. The war ended in defeat for the Berber tribes, and they were from that point on forced to surrender their arms and submit to
2494-573: The Berber peoples of the kingdom, the Mauri people . The word "Mauri" is also the root of the name for the Moors . It was more commonly known to Arab geographers as Bilad Chinqit, "the land of the Chinguetti". The term "Mauritanie occidentale" was officially used in a ministerial circular in 1899, based on a proposal by Xavier Coppolani , a French military and colonial leader, who was instrumental in
2580-468: The Halpularen ethnic group. The tension culminated in an international airlift agreed to by Senegal and Mauritania under international pressure to prevent further violence. The Mauritanian Government expelled thousands of black Mauritanians. Most of these so-called 'Senegalese' had few or no ties with Senegal, and many have been repatriated from Senegal and Mali after 2007. The exact number of expulsions
2666-511: The Land of the Blacks ", in Senegal and Mali). In 1673, Nasr al-Din began invaded Futa Tooro and the various Wolof states beyond the Senegal river . By focusing on the states south of the Senegal, Nasr al-Din avoided an early confrontation with the powerful Beni Hassan. Nasr al-Din's focus on these states gained him control of the entrepôts for the gum trade along the Senegal. French trade on
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2752-536: The Maghreb and had given rise to the Beni Hassan along with other related groups. The Beni Hassan continued their expansion to the southwest and occupied Sanhaja lands in the 13th century after invading and defeating this Berber confederation with the Lamtuna , Masmuda , Djuddala, Gazula, Banu Warith, Lamta and Tuareg , in a group known as the Baranis in Western Sahara. The Sanhaja has long had to pay tribute to
2838-541: The Maghreb, discovering the same way of life as in the Arabian Peninsula. The Ma'qil branch of Beni Hassan which came to dominate all of Mauritania , Western Sahara , south Morocco , and south-west Algeria , spread the Hassaniya Arabic dialect, which is very close to classical Arabic . The exact origin of the Ma'qil tribe is unknown, although it has been established that they most likely originated in South Arabia ( Yemen ). They claimed for themselves
2924-660: The Maqil's arrival and fought them off. The Maqil later allied with the Banu Hilal and entered under their protection, which enabled them to wander in the Moroccan desert between the Moulouya River and Tafilalt oases. In the 13th century, they occupied southern Algeria and dominated the oases of Tuat and Gourara. For some authors, at this point, the Maqil group had already disintegrated into different populations in
3010-481: The Mauritanian Army and head of the presidential guard, who had recently been fired. Mauritania's presidential spokesman, Abdoulaye Mamadouba, said the President, Prime Minister, and Interior Minister had been arrested by renegade senior Mauritanian army officers and were being held under house arrest at the presidential palace in the capital. In the apparently successful and bloodless coup, Abdallahi's daughter, Amal Mint Cheikh Abdallahi, said: "The security agents of
3096-581: The Moroccan Sahara between the Moulouya River and Tafilalet oases. A tiny group of them however stayed in Ifriqiya , during their westward transit in the Maghreb , and briefly worked as viziers of the victorious Hilalians and Banu Sulaym , who had recently defeated the powerful Berber Zirid Empire . Harry Norris noted "the Moorish Sahara is the western extremity of the Arab World. Western it certainly is, some districts further west than Ireland, yet in its way of life, its culture, its literature and in many of its social customs, it has much in common with
3182-413: The Sahara to the Iberian Peninsula in Europe. According to a disputed Arab tradition the Almoravids traveled south and conquered the ancient and extensive Ghana Empire around 1076. From 1644 to 1674 the indigenous peoples of the area that is modern Mauritania made what became their final effort to repel the Yemeni Maqil Arabs who were invading their territory. This effort, which was unsuccessful,
3268-408: The Saharan Ksours , Yahya ibn Al-iz. As the Arabs expanded their domains in Morocco and Arabized many Berbers, Arabic became the common language, which the Marinids made the official language. Arabs also increased their influence and power in Morocco, and no one could have ruled there without their co-operation. When riding in state, the Marinid sultan was flanked on either side by an Arab and
3354-495: The Senegal had seen large growth since the beginning of the century, and thus control of the entrepôts strengthened Nasr al-Din financially, whilst offsetting the Hassan control of the trade to the ports on the Saharan coast. The Beni Hassan were united in their opposition to Nasr al-Din. Most of the burden of fighting fell to the Emirate of Trarza , although the Emirate of Brakna sent Trarza reinforcements and helped immobilise Zawaya in their own regions to prevent them from joining
3440-433: The US and Europe. It was rewarded with diplomatic normalization and aid projects. On 28 October 1999, Mauritania joined Egypt, Palestine, and Jordan as the only members of the Arab League to officially recognize Israel . Ould Taya also started co-operating with the United States in anti-terrorism activities, a policy that was criticized by some human rights organizations. (See also Foreign relations of Mauritania .) During
3526-418: The Western Sahara conflict has been, since the 1980s, one of strict neutrality. The Mauritania–Senegal Border War started as a result of a conflict in Diawara between Moorish Mauritanian herders and Senegalese farmers over grazing rights. On 9 April 1989, Mauritanian guards killed two Senegalese. Following the incident, several riots erupted in Bakel , Dakar and other towns in Senegal, directed against
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3612-474: The anticolonial rebellion (or jihad ) of shaykh Maa al-Aynayn and by insurgents from Tagant and the other occupied regions. In 1904, France organized the territory of Mauritania, and it became part of French West Africa , first as a protectorate and later as a colony. In 1912, the French armies defeated Adrar, and incorporated it into the territory of Mauritania. French rule brought legal prohibitions against slavery and an end to interclan warfare. During
3698-441: The biggest sub-group of the Ma'qil and lived as nomads in the southern hills between Tlemcen and Taourirt . In their nomadic travel they reached as far as the Melwiya river in the north and Tuat in the south. The Beni Ubayd Allah later divided into two sub-tribes: The Haraj and The Kharaj. The Banu Mansur descended from Mansour bin Mohammed, the second son of the Ma'qil forefather. They lived as nomads between Taourirt and
3784-509: The capital Nouakchott . The coup proceeded without loss of life. Calling themselves the Military Council for Justice and Democracy , the officers released the following statement: The national armed forces and security forces have unanimously decided to put a definitive end to the oppressive activities of the defunct authority, which our people have suffered from during the past years. The Military Council later issued another statement naming Colonel Ould Mohamed Vall as president and director of
3870-422: The civil war between the different Zenata groups and seized control of various Ksours and oases in the Sous , Draa , Tuat and Taourirt upon which they imposed taxes, while giving a certain amount of the collected money to the local competing Zenata kings. During the Almohad era, the Ma'qils stayed loyal, paid taxes and neither looted nor attacked any villages, Ksours or passing trading Caravans. As
3956-420: The colonial occupation and creation of modern-day Mauritania. This term, employed by the French, gradually replaced other designations previously used for referring to the country. The ancient tribes of Mauritania were Berber , Niger-Congo , and Bafour peoples. The Bafour were among the first Saharan peoples to abandon their previously nomadic lifestyle and adopt a primarily agricultural one. In response to
4042-435: The colonial period 90% of the population remained nomadic. Gradually many individuals belonging to sedentary peoples, whose ancestors had been expelled centuries earlier, began to migrate into Mauritania. Until 1902, the capital of French West Africa was in modern-day Senegal. It was first established at Saint-Louis and later, from 1902 to 1960, in Dakar. When Senegal gained its independence that year, France chose Nouakchott as
4128-418: The contemporary Sahrawi people . The Char Bouba War was led by Sidi Ibrahim Al Aroussi, son of the famous Cheikh Sidi Ahmed Al Aroussi (died in 1593, near to Smara , in Western Sahara). Al Aroussi, with his two sons Shanan Al Aroussi and Sidi Tounsi Al Aroussi, led a powerful force of the Beni Hassan, the Aroussi Army, to conquer the Berber Imarat in modern day Mauritania and gain access to Bilad as-Sudan ("
4214-502: The country (or 2.1% of the population). . Despite an abundance of natural resources, including iron ore and petroleum, Mauritania remains poor; its economy is based primarily on agriculture, livestock, and fishing. Mauritania is culturally and politically part of the Arab world ; it is a member of the Arab League and Arabic is the official language. The official religion is Islam , and almost all inhabitants are Sunni Muslims . Despite its prevailing Arab identity , Mauritanian society
4300-480: The country's sacrifice and defense. In late 2018, Mauritania bribed members of the EU parlament ( Antonio Panzeri ) to "not speak ill of Mauritania" in what became known as the Qatar corruption scandal at the European Parliament . In August 2019 Mohamed Ould Ghazouani was sworn in as president after the 2019 elections , which were considered Mauritania's first peaceful transition of power since independence. In June 2021 former president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz
4386-427: The descendants of Hassan, they also include the Shebanat (sons of Shebana the brother of Hassan) and the Reguitat who descended from the other sons of Mohamed; namely Jalal, Salem and Uthman. They wandered in the Sous and the extreme- Sous (present-day southern Morocco) but they had originally lived as nomads near the Melwiya river neighboring their relatives; the Banu Ubayd Allah and Banu Mansour. Their coming to
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#17327660634744472-478: The desert area of Western Sahara. In the 19th century, they led the consolidation of the process of cultural and linguistic Arabization of Mauritania. By the end of the 19th century, the Zenaga Berber language was completely annihilated. Several other Arab tribes joined the Maqils and became part of the Beni Hassan tribe. Maqil The Banu Ma'qil ( Arabic : بنو معقل ) is an Arab nomadic tribe that originated in South Arabia . The tribe emigrated to
4558-473: The education system. This was also a reaction to the consequences of the French domination under the colonial rule. Various models for maintaining the country's cultural diversity have been suggested, but none have been successfully implemented. This ethnic discord was evident during intercommunal violence that broke out in April 1989 (the " Mauritania–Senegal Border War "), but has since subsided. Mauritania expelled some 70,000 sub-Saharan African Mauritanians in
4644-403: The forces of Nasr. Most Zawaya of the Southern Sahara sided with Nasr, although some remained neutral, and others supported the Beni Hassan, with a Zawaya scholar from Shinqit issuing a fatwa against Nasr, stating that he was not a Caliph and had no right to impose the zakat . This fatwa led to Hãdi, the Trarza chief, sending troops to seize animals that had already been sent as zakat. In 1674,
4730-480: The future, under UN auspices, to determine whether or not the indigenous Sahrawis wish to be independent, as the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic , or to be part of Morocco. In 1960, Mauritania became an independent nation. In 1964 President Moktar Ould Daddah , originally installed by the French, formalized Mauritania as a one-party state with a new constitution , setting up an authoritarian presidential regime. Daddah's own Parti du Peuple Mauritanien became
4816-476: The gradual desiccation of the Sahara, they eventually migrated southward. Many of the Berber tribes have claimed to have Yemeni (and sometimes other Arab) origins. Little evidence supports those claims, although a 2000 DNA study of the Yemeni people suggested some ancient connection might exist between the peoples. The Umayyads were the first Arab Muslims to enter Mauritania. During the Islamic conquests , they made incursions into Mauritania and were present in
4902-400: The heart lands of the Arab East, in particular with the Hijaz and Najd and parts of the Yemen". The Ma'qils quickly grew in numbers, this is due to the fact that parts of many other Arabian tribes joined them, which included: Once in Morocco, they allied with the Zenata nomadic groups that neighbored them in the wolds. After the decline of Almohad authority, the Ma'qil took advantage of
4988-401: The late 1980s Ould Taya had established close co-operation with Iraq , and pursued a strongly Arab nationalist line. Mauritania grew increasingly isolated internationally, and tensions with Western countries grew dramatically after it took a pro-Iraqi position during the 1991 Gulf War . During the mid-to late 1990s, Mauritania shifted its foreign policy to one of increased co-operation with
5074-433: The late 1980s. Ethnic tensions and the sensitive issue of slavery – past and, in some areas, present – are still powerful themes in the country's political debate. A significant number from all groups seek a more diverse, pluralistic society. The International Court of Justice concluded that in spite of some evidence of both Morocco's and Mauritania's legal ties prior to Spanish colonization, neither set of ties
5160-446: The mainly Arabized Mauritanians who dominated the local retail business. The rioting, adding to already existing tensions, led to a campaign of terror against black Mauritanians, who are often seen as 'Senegalese' by the Bidān (White Moors), regardless of their nationality. As low scale conflict with Senegal continued into 1990/91, the Mauritanian government engaged in or encouraged acts of violence and seizures of property directed against
5246-486: The military junta organizing elections within a promised two-year timeline. In a referendum on 26 June 2006, 97% of Mauritanians approved a new constitution that limited the duration of a president's stay in office. The leader of the junta , Col. Vall, promised to abide by the referendum and relinquish power peacefully. Mauritania's establishment of relations with Israel – it was one of only three Arab states to recognize Israel – was maintained by
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#17327660634745332-415: The military coup in 2005. This was the first time since Mauritania gained independence in 1960 that it elected a president in a multi-candidate election. The elections were won in a second round of voting by Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi , with Ahmed Ould Daddah a close second. On 6 August 2008 the head of the presidential guards took over the president's palace in Nouakchott, a day after 48 lawmakers from
5418-399: The national police force, the Sûreté Nationale . Vall, once regarded as a firm ally of the now-ousted president, had aided Ould Taya in the coup that had originally brought him to power, and had later served as his Security Chief. Sixteen other officers were listed as members of the council. Though cautiously watched by the international community, the coup came to be generally accepted, with
5504-400: The new order and call for Abdel Aziz's resignation. In February 2011 the waves of the Arab Spring spread to Mauritania, where thousands of people took to the streets of the capital. In November 2014 Mauritania was invited as a non-member guest nation to the G20 summit in Brisbane . The national flag of Mauritania was changed on 5 August 2017. Two red stripes were added as a symbol of
5590-441: The new regime, despite widespread criticism from the opposition. They considered that position as a legacy of the Taya regime's attempts to curry favor with the West. Parliamentary and municipal elections in Mauritania took place on 19 November and 3 December 2006. Mauritania's first fully democratic presidential elections took place on 11 March 2007. The elections effected the final transfer from military to civilian rule following
5676-602: The new state. At the same time, the French were militarily suppressing the most intransigent Hassane tribes in the north. French pressure on those tribes altered the existing balance of power, and new conflicts arose between the southern populations and the Moors. The great Sahel droughts of the early 1970s caused massive devastation in Mauritania, exacerbating problems of poverty and conflict. The arabized dominant elites reacted to changing circumstances, and to Arab nationalist calls from abroad, by increasing pressure to arabize many aspects of Mauritanian life, such as law and
5762-410: The nomadic Bedouin Hassani invaders. The invasion was quick and effective and happened around the year 1250, by the end of the Almohad Caliphate , and also dominated the valleys of the Moulouya , Draa , Sous , as well as the Tafilalt oasis region. By the mid-15th century, the Beni Hassan controlled a large part of the oases and Western Sahara. They crossed into the Atlas after taking advantage of
5848-446: The oases. They were accused of subjecting these territories to two centuries of looting and intermittent wars, but at the same time they point out that their families settled in the same towns that they attacked and subjugated. This took place during the Char Bouba War from 1644 to 1674, which after decades of confrontations ended up completely Arabizing the native Berber population, destroying their language and culture and giving rise to
5934-408: The power of the Almohads declined, the Ma'qils took advantage of the lack of central state authority and the civil war between the Zenata, and seized the control of many Ksours around Tafilalet , the Draa Valley and Tawrirt. Almohad caliph Abd al-Mu'min encouraged the settlement of Banu Ma'qil and other Arabian tribes in coastal Morocco, an area which was largely depopulated by the conquest of
6020-412: The power of the Hassane. Still, the traditional roles of the tribes remain important socially in these areas. Following the pre-Islamic tradition of tribal warfare between clans in the Arabian Peninsula, the new Hassani emirates repeatedly went to war with each other. Throughout the 18th century, they harassed the Wolof in Senegal. Throughout this period, they spread their dialect and culture throughout
6106-450: The regime of President Ould Taya Mauritania developed economically, oil was discovered in 2001 by the Woodside Company. On 3 August 2005 a military coup led by Colonel Ely Ould Mohamed Vall ended President Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya 's twenty-one years of rule. Taking advantage of Ould Taya's attendance at the funeral of Saudi King Fahd , the military, including members of the presidential guard (BASEP), seized control of key points in
6192-781: The region by the end of the seventh century. Many Berber tribes in Mauritania fled the arrival of the Arabs to the Gao region in Mali . Other peoples also migrated south past the Sahara and into West Africa. In the 11th century, several nomadic Berber confederations in the desert regions overlapping present-day Mauritania joined together to form the Almoravid movement. They expanded north and south, spawning an important empire that stretched from
6278-444: The release of Abdallahi, who was instead placed under house arrest in his home village. The new government broke off relations with Israel. After the coup Abdel Aziz insisted on holding new presidential elections to replace Abdallahi, but was forced to reschedule them due to internal and international opposition. During the spring of 2009, the junta negotiated an understanding with some opposition figures and international parties. As
6364-407: The ruling organization in a one-party system . The President justified this on the grounds that Mauritania was not ready for western style multiparty democracy . Under this one-party constitution, Daddah was re-elected in uncontested elections in 1976 and 1978. Daddah was ousted in a bloodless coup on 10 July 1978. He had brought the country to near-collapse through the disastrous war to annex
6450-471: The ruling party resigned in protest of President Abdallahi's policies. The Army surrounded key government facilities, including the state television building, after the president fired senior officers, one of them the head of the presidential guards. The President, Prime Minister Yahya Ould Ahmed Waghef , and Mohamed Ould R'zeizim, Minister of Internal Affairs, were arrested. The coup was coordinated by General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz , former chief of staff of
6536-467: The site of the new capital of Mauritania. At the time, Nouakchott was little more than a fortified village (or ksar ). After Mauritanian independence, larger numbers of indigenous sub-Saharan African peoples ( Haalpulaar , Soninke , and Wolof ) migrated into it, most of them settling in the area north of the Senegal River . Many of these new arrivals had been educated in the French language and customs, and became clerks, soldiers, and administrators in
6622-627: The southwest . By land area Mauritania is the 11th-largest country in Africa and 28th-largest in the world; 90% of its territory is in the Sahara . Most of its population of some 4.3 million lives in the temperate south of the country, with roughly a third concentrated in the capital and largest city, Nouakchott , on the Atlantic coast. The country's name derives from Mauretania , the Latin name for
6708-517: The takeover of a government that had become "an authoritarian regime" under a president who had "marginalized the majority in parliament". However, Abdel Aziz's regime was isolated internationally, and became subject to diplomatic sanctions and the cancellation of some aid projects. Domestically, a group of parties coalesced around Abdallahi to continue protesting the coup, which caused the junta to ban demonstrations and crack down on opposition activists. International and internal pressure eventually forced
6794-575: The third century BC and later became the Roman province of Mauretania , which flourished into the seventh century AD. The two territories do not overlap, though; historical Mauretania was considerably farther north than modern Mauritania, as it was spread out along the entire western half of the Mediterranean coast of Africa. The term "Mauretania", in turn, derives from the Greek and Roman exonym for
6880-538: The warrior Arab tribes, to whom they paid the horma tributary tax. They would remain in roles as either exploited semi-sedentary agriculturalists and fishermen ( znaga tribes), or, higher up on the social ladder, as religious ( marabout or zawiya ) tribes. This division between Hassane Arab warriors and Berber marabouts, plus the subordinate znaga, existed in Mauritania up until the French colonization, when France imposed itself militarily on all tribes, and so broke
6966-566: The weakening Marinid Sultanate around 1460 and then they dominated the Haouz region of Marrakesh by the beginning of the 16th century. At the same time, a part of the Beni Hassan made its way to Mauritania . Other groups migrated north through Tafilalt to Fez or up the Sebou and Bou Regreg rivers, where some settled south of Rabat . The Hassanis were represented in the Haouz of Marrakech by
7052-626: Was arrested amidst a corruption probe into allegations of embezzlement. In December 2023, Aziz was sentenced to 5 years in prison for corruption. In January and February 2024 there was a sudden increase of refugees from 2000 to 12,000 arriving on the Canary Islands by boat, so in March 2024, Ursula von der Leyen and Pedro Sánchez visited and the EU made a €210mn deal with Mauritania to reduce passage of African migrants through its territory towards
7138-432: Was deposed by Colonel Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya , who, while retaining tight military control, relaxed the political climate. Ould Taya moderated Mauritania's previous pro-Algerian stance, and re-established ties with Morocco during the late 1980s. He deepened these ties during the late 1990s and early 2000s, as part of Mauritania's drive to attract support from Western states and Western-aligned Arab states. Its position on
7224-399: Was led by General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz , who won subsequent presidential elections in 2009 and 2014 . He was succeeded by General Mohamed Ould Ghazouani following the 2019 elections , head of an autocratic government with a very poor human rights record , particularly because of its perpetuation of slavery ; the 2018 Global Slavery Index estimates there are about 90,000 slaves in
7310-499: Was plagued by attempted coups and intrigue within the military establishment. It became increasingly contested due to his harsh and uncompromising measures against opponents; many dissidents were jailed, and some executed. Slavery in Mauritania still exists, despite being officially abolished three timesː 1905, 1981, and again in August 2007. Anti-slavery activists are persecuted, imprisoned and tortured. In December 1984 Haidallah
7396-715: Was sufficient to affect the application of the UN General Assembly Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to Western Sahara . In 1976, Mauritania, along with Morocco , annexed the territory of Western Sahara . After several military losses to the Polisario – heavily armed and supported by Algeria, the regional power and rival to Morocco – Mauritania withdrew in 1979. Its claims were taken over by Morocco. Due to economic weakness, Mauritania has been
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