Mauritania Struggles to Combat Criminal Networks Amidst Political Instability

Despite efforts by the government to combat criminal networks, Mauritania remains a hub for illegal activities, including drug trafficking, human smuggling, and financial corruption. The country’s porous borders with Morocco, Algeria, Mali, and Senegal make it an attractive location for criminal organizations to operate.

Drug Trafficking Remains a Major Concern

• Customs officials have seized large quantities of drugs at the Morocco-Mauritania border, despite the lack of law enforcement presence compared to the Algeria-Morocco border.
• The city of Nouadhibou has emerged as a key transshipment point for illegal drugs.
• The use of synthetic drugs has also increased in recent years, particularly in major cities.

Cyber Crimes on the Rise

• Mauritania’s increasing reliance on technology has made it more vulnerable to cyber-dependent crimes.
• Attacks on government and private sector websites have become common, with officials suspecting that perpetrators are located abroad.

Financial Corruption Widespread

• Corruption and embezzlement of public resources are rampant in Mauritania, with low wages and lack of parliamentary control over the budget contributing to financial corruption at all levels of society.
• The country’s financial intelligence unit has been ineffective in combating financial crimes, and foreign actors have been linked to several financial scandals.

Criminal Networks Involved

• Foreign criminal networks from Morocco, Algeria, Mali, Senegal, and the Sahrawi region are active in Mauritania’s drug and human smuggling markets.
• Malian criminal networks have collaborated with Mauritanians and Senegalese to traffic humans.
• There are also indications that drug traffickers cooperate with al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.

Weak Governance and Corruption

• State collusion with criminals is a common problem, with high-level officials unwilling to uphold the rule of law when it threatens their interests.
• The country’s desert geography and sparse population make it easy for smuggling networks and extremist groups to operate.

Economic Challenges

• Mauritania’s informal sector and underdeveloped financial infrastructure make it difficult to detect money laundering.
• Anti-money laundering legislation exists, but enforcement is weak.
• The economy relies heavily on mineral exports, fisheries, agriculture, and livestock, with the government struggling to promote the private sector.

Civil Society Constrained

• Victims of trafficking often lack access to justice and support programs.
• The government’s efforts to combat trafficking are hindered by a lack of resources and limited awareness.
• Civil society is constrained by the regime and intimidated by security forces, with human rights defenders and activists frequently arrested and imprisoned.

Recent developments have included the introduction of a simplified registration process for NGOs and the resurrection of the abolitionist movement known as the ‘Era’ movement. However, much work remains to be done to combat criminal networks and promote good governance in Mauritania.