Executive branch:
chief of state: President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA (since 12
December 1984) was reelected for a six-year term by universal
suffrage; election last held 17 January 1992 (next to be held NA
January 1998); results - President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA
was reelected
head of government: Prime Minister Cheikh El Afia Ould Mohamed
KHOUNA (since NA January 1996) was appointed by the president
cabinet: Council of Ministers
Legislative branch: bicameral legislature
Senate (Majlis al-Shuyukh): elections last held 15 April 1994 (next
to be held 12 April 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats (56 total, with 17 up for election every two years) PRDS 16,
UFD/NE 1
National Assembly (Majlis al-Watani): elections last held 6 and 13
March 1992 (next to be held NA March 1997); results - percent of
vote by party NA; seats - (79 total) UFD/NE 67, PMR 1, RDU 1,
independents 10
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders: legalized by constitution passed 12 July 1991, however, politics continue to be tribally based; emerging parties include Democratic and Social Republican Party (PRDS), led by President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed TAYA; Union of Democratic Forces-New Era (UFD/NE), headed by Ahmed Ould DADDAH; Assembly for Democracy and Unity (RDU), Ahmed Ould SIDI BABA; Popular Social and Democratic Union (UPSD), Mohamed Mahmoud Ould MAH; Mauritanian Party for Renewal (PMR), Hameida BOUCHRAYA; National Avant-Garde Party (PAN), Khattry Ould JIDDOU; Mauritanian Party of the Democratic Center (PCDM), Bamba Ould SIDI BADI
Other political or pressure groups: Mauritanian Workers Union (UTM)
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACCT (associate),
ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CAEU, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77,
IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ismail Ould IYAHI chancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 232-5700
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Dorothy Myers SAMPAS embassy: address NA, Nouakchott mailing address: B. P. 222, Nouakchott telephone: [222] (2) 526-60, 526-63 FAX: [222] (2) 515-92
Flag: green with a yellow five-pointed star above a yellow, horizontal crescent; the closed side of the crescent is down; the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam
Economy ———-