Country Overview: Mauritania

Mauritania is a West African country with a population of approximately 4.5 million people. Despite improvements in governance, corruption remains a significant challenge to the country’s development.

Challenges Faced by Mauritania

Corruption and Governance Issues

1. Widespread Corruption: Corruption is widespread and poses a significant challenge to the country’s development.
2. Ineffective Governance: The government’s engagement with the international community is seen as ineffective, and its response to demands by opposition members of parliament to dismiss officials implicated in financial irregularities has been criticized.

Human Rights Concerns

1. Human Trafficking: Mauritania is a source, transit, and destination country for human trafficking. Victims often lack access to justice and support programs.
2. Descent-Based Slavery: Descent-based slavery is still practiced in Mauritania, with many people forced into slavery due to their ethnic or social status.

Security Challenges

1. Porosity of Borders: The country faces many risks and challenges in terms of territorial integrity due to its long and porous borders as well as to tribal overlap between Mauritania and Mali’s northern regions.
2. Security Risks: The country also faces security risks from the infiltration of violent extremists and criminals into the country.

Positive Developments in Mauritania

International Cooperation

1. Fighting Human Trafficking: Mauritania has taken steps towards international cooperation in fighting human trafficking and illegal fishing activities.
2. Anti-Money Laundering Legislation: The state has taken steps to combat both money laundering and the financing of terrorism at the national level by subjecting associations to the control of the tax authorities.

Private Sector Development

1. Promotion Strategy: The government has adopted a private-sector promotion strategy, but its development depends on institutionalization, regulation, and the promotion of an entrepreneurial culture.

Recommendations for Mauritania

1. Strengthen Anti-Corruption Efforts: The government should strengthen anti-corruption efforts to address corruption and ensure that officials are held accountable for financial irregularities.
2. Improve Governance: The government should improve its engagement with the international community and respond effectively to demands by opposition members of parliament to dismiss officials implicated in financial irregularities.
3. Enhance Security Measures: The country should enhance security measures to address security challenges and prevent the infiltration of violent extremists and criminals into the country.
4. Promote Private Sector Development: The government should promote private sector development through institutionalization, regulation, and the promotion of an entrepreneurial culture.
5. Support Civil Society: The government should support civil society organizations and ensure that they are able to operate freely and effectively in promoting human rights and social protection.