Mauritania Essay Example

The country's land boundaries are with Algeria, Mali Senegal and Western Sahara; this accounts for 5,074 sq miles of its total land. The majority of Mauritania consists of desert and barren plains within the Sahara. There is only one rainy season from July to October that brings approximately 25 inches of precipitation each year.

During the summer months in Mauritania's afternoon temperatures often exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit and daily highs can reach up to 115 degrees Fahrenheit.

The vegetation in Mauritania becomes more abundant as you travel towards the south, particularly in the Sudanic Savanna. This region is known for its lush palm trees and acacia trees, as well as its diverse wildlife such as antelope, lions, elephants, gazelle, ostriches, warthogs, panthers, hyenas, and lynx. Lakes and streams within this area also house crocodiles.

However, there are currently environmental issues caused by overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion that have been exacerbated by drought conditions. Fresh water availability is limited outside of the Senegal River which holds great significance in this region. The majority of the population speaks Hansaniya Arabic (the official language), Pular, Soninke, and Wolof.

The population of Mauritania is approximately 2,336,048. Among the population, 48% are aged between 0-14 years old, 49% are aged between 15-64 years old, and 3% are over the age of 64. There are a total of 1,129,368 males and 1,155,256 females in the country. Females have dominance particularly among those over the age of 64. The birth rate stands at approximately 46.92 births per year. The entire population is Muslim; however, there is an ethnic division with Maur/Blacks accounting for 40%, Maur accounting for 30%, and Blacks accounting for another 30%.1

Literacy

The literacy

rate in Mauritania requires individuals who are aged above or equal to fifteen to possess reading and writing skills. Males have a higher literacy rate compared to females by a margin of about23.3%.3

Infostructure

The infrastructure in Mauritania is very weak.

The government-owned railways in this region only cover an average of 704 km and are single tracked. The mining company primarily utilizes these railways, leaving very little or no space for passenger transportation. As for the highways, their total length is approximately 7,496 km, with 1,342 km being paved and 6,154 km remaining unpaved. Unfortunately, these roads are not regularly updated like those found in the United States, mainly due to lack of financial resources needed to complete the paving. Moreover, the paved roads often get damaged by extensive flooding and extremely hot weather conditions. Interestingly, the waterways in this region are more technologically advanced compared to the roads and play a significant role in facilitating the transportation of goods.

The Senegal River serves as a route for ferry transportation. It is home to significant ports namely Kaedi, Nouadhibou, Nouakchott, and Rosso, none of which are marine ports. The region boasts numerous airports, but most of them are unpaved, resembling the condition of the roads. Only four roads within the area are paved, each spanning four miles or less, while approximately six unpaved roads are shorter than three miles. None of these roads possess control towers or safety devices to ensure secure airplane landings.

They have no funds or resources to construct bypasses. The demand for them is equivalent to the demand for more crocodiles. 23

Economy

Mauritania possesses an emerging mixed economy primarily relying on agriculture and mineral exports. The

growth rate of the gross national product (GNP) is slower than the population growth, resulting in a significantly low GNP per capita.2 Agriculture contributes approximately one-third of the gross domestic product (GDP) and employs two-thirds of the workforce, predominantly in subsistence farming. Millet, sorghum, rice, and other cereals are cultivated alongside the Senegal River.

The primary agricultural activity in the county is the production of livestock. Output can be significantly reduced due to cyclical drought conditions. To address this issue, the Gorgol irrigation project was constructed on the Senegal River. Additionally, fish caught in the Atlantic Ocean are both sold domestically and serve as the main export. The county also permits foreign vessels to fish in their territory, receiving incentives in return.

One of the main sources of income for the country is the production and export of iron ore, which contributes to 1/8 of its GDP but employs less than 5% of the workforce. Recently, a petroleum refinery that was completed in 1978 has reopened, and an old copper mine at Akjoujit has also reopened. The iron ore alone supplies approximately 50% of the country's GDP from total exports. However, the demand for iron ore has significantly decreased in the past decade, leading to production cutbacks. Despite this, the coastal areas of the country remain among the top five richest areas for fish since 1985.

In 1986, the Nuoakhott River's initial deepwater port was established; however, the area is currently experiencing a decline in fish population. In recent times, drought and economic mismanagement have contributed to a substantial external debt. Additionally, inflation rates have surged over the last six years but have stabilized at 3.5% since 1995.

This elevated inflation renders it impractical to fulfill fundamental living requirements.

Despite some individuals believing that the U.S. should not provide aid to other nations, it is important to consider the current situation in Mauritania. The country's labor force is divided as follows: agriculture - 47%, services - 29%, industry and commerce - approximately 13-14%, and government employment - around 10%. The unemployment rate is about 20%, which is relatively low considering the ongoing development in Mauritania.

Mauritania has major trade partners including Japan, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg, and France. However, the nation still carries an annual external debt of $1.9 billion dollars. In terms of electricity, Mauritania has a capacity of around 11,000 kw with a production rate of 1135 million kwh.

The average person's consumption rate of kwh is increasing. 3

Communication

Telephones are considered necessary, with 17,000 homes and businesses equipped with phones. However, the system is poor and consists of cable and open wire lines. Local villagers have installed minor radio relay links. There is only one satellite communication station available, used for weather and U.S.A.F purposes.

The radio broadcasts in the country are weak and short waved, with only about 300,000 radios available. There is only one broadcast system. Televisions are almost as common as phones, but their popularity has declined with 50,000 fewer people equipped with a TV.

Defense

The branches of defense include the Army, Navy, Airforce, National Gendarmerie, National Police, and Presidential Guards. However, most of these branches are not frequently used except for their role in protecting the president and preventing riots.

1

Government and Social Conditions.

Mauritania has been under the control of a military

regime controlled by a single party since a coup d'etat in 1978. The original constitution from 1960 was suspended and replaced with a temporary constitution created in 1980 by the military committee for National Salvation, which was later abandoned in 1981. In February 1980, Islamic principles were adopted as the foundation of the legal system.

Despite the official abolition of slavery in July 1980, a London-based anti-slavery society reported that there were still at least 110,000 individuals living in enslavement. Mauritania, being a poor country, offers benefits for old age and good social welfare. However, the benefits for unemployment and illness contribute to high infant mortality rates of approximately 127 per 1,000 live births and low life expectancies. The enrollment of students in primary and secondary schools has been steadily increasing; nevertheless, illiteracy remains prevalent with over 70% of adults lacking literacy skills. Though the food supply is generally considered sufficient during normal years, droughts result in periods of malnutrition which further facilitate the transmission of diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, measles, and influenza. Nouakchott houses the sole major hospital while there exists an inadequate number of doctors to meet demand since most have been stationed by the government in areas unaffected by disease and mortality.

Since its independence from France in 1960, Mauritania has faced a notable decrease in welfare and health. Currently, the country is requesting assistance from France again; however, the response has been inadequate. This could potentially result in additional financial losses for France as they strive to revive Mauritania. Among all cities, Nouakchott, the capital city, has suffered the most from population growth due to its access to water and food resources.

Despite being a sizable city, Nouakchott maintains a low crime rate and operates with fundamental court systems.

They have a three-tier system: Islamic courts, special courts, and state security courts in the process of being eliminated from lack of an organized process.3

Currency

Their currency is 1 ouguiyas(UM)= 5 khoums. The exchange rate of ouguiyas as of January 1996 is $135.690 per U.S one dollar. It varies depending on the performance of their international stocks and trades, as well as other travel accommodations. Over the past years, their currency has increased by 2% and continues to rise due to fishing and copper mining. They are currently experiencing their best year ever.

People

The people, known as Moors, are a mixed population of Arab-Berber and Sudanese blacks who all speak Hassaniyah, an Arabic-based language. They constitute the vast majority of the population.

The majority of the population in the Senegal River Valley consists of the Tukulor people, dispersed throughout the south are the Fulani, and residing in the vicinity of Rosso in southwestern Mauritania are the Wolof. The Tukulor and Flani speak Flufulde, while other groups retain their traditional languages. Additionally, this population is predominantly Muslim; however, due to low population density, it is challenging to determine an exact count of Muslims.

Opinion

To enhance this country's development, actively engaging with their resources and increasing exports for economic growth can be a key strategy. Furthermore, efforts should focus on involving more individuals in national development and fostering a stronger sense of nationalism.

Even though numerous countries are unable to match the average income levels of individuals in the United States, it should serve as an example for other nations to strive towards. Therefore, it is

crucial for us in the U.S to demonstrate how stability can be maintained and extended to other countries. It is essential that we unite and enhance our educational initiatives to actively engage children and teenagers.

More roads need to be produced, reconstructed, and paved to facilitate transportation by vehicle, making it easier and more efficient. Additionally, there is a need for the construction of more ports as the old ones are deteriorating. For instance, the Segenal River Port, along with other ports, is almost completely destroyed. Furthermore, Mauritania should halt its current practice of allowing foreign countries to fish in their territory, as it is resulting in limited resources. However, they are hesitant to take action due to fear of losing allies.

The air transportation system in Mauritania requires further development and the mass production of bypasses, highways, and runways. The country's most severe problem is the detrimental impact of overgrazing and deforestation on its agriculture sector, leading to significant levels of acid rain. Acid rain is causing the death of numerous plants, more than ever before. It is essential to create additional employment opportunities to give people a sense of contributing to their country. Through work, individuals will feel they are making a positive impact and enhance national pride. Organizing events and activities to celebrate the nation's independence should be conducted to acknowledge past achievements.

This country must take the following steps to enhance its national standing as a developing country.

• Refer to Encyclopedia Britanica 1986 (or 87, unsure) pages 957-959.
• Special edition of National Geographic on Africa, pages 1-143J, 1985.

Obtain information from MaUrItAnIa: the world fact book, particularly the page on Mauritania (the primary source of my informationJ), using the keyword on AOL ABC News. The website is unavailable.