Constitution: 12 July 1991
Legal system: a combination of Shari'a (Islamic law) and modern law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA (since 12
December 1984)
head of government: Prime Minister Cheikel Afia Ould Mohamed KHOUNA
(since 16 November 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;
election last held 12 December 1997 (next to be held NA December
2003); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA
reelected with 90% of the vote
Legislative branch: bicameral legislature consists of the Senate
or Majlis al-Shuyukh (56 seats; 17 up for election every two years;
members elected by municipal leaders to serve six-year terms) and
the National Assembly or Majlis al-Watani (79 seats; members elected
by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate—last held 17 April 1998 (next to be held NA 2000);
National Assembly—last held 11 and 18 October 1996 (next to be held
NA 2001)
election results: Senate—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by
party—NA; National Assembly—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by
party—PRDS 71, AC 1, independents and other 7
Judicial branch: three-tier system: lower, appeals, and 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 or
Political pressure groups and leaders: Mauritanian Workers Union
MOHAMED, secretary general]
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, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Ahmed Ould Khalifa OULD JIDDOU chancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008