Official name

République islamique de Mauritanie

Form of state

Arab and African Islamic republic

Legal system

Based on the 1991 constitution, strongly influenced by sharia (Islamic law)

National legislature

The bicameral parliament consists of the Senate, with 56 members, and the National Assembly, with 95 seats

National elections

July 2009 (presidential), November 2009 (legislative); next municipal elections and National Assembly elections in 2011 and presidential election in 2014

Head of state

Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz

National government

On July 18th 2009 the leader of a military coup in August 2008, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, won a presidential election in one round of voting, securing 53% of the vote; following his election, Mr Abdel Aziz appointed a new government

Main political parties

The main political parties are: Union pour la République (UPR); Parti républicain pour la démocratie et le renouveau (PRDR); Rassemblement des forces démocratiques (RFD); Union des forces du progrès (UFP); Alliance populaire progressiste (APP); Union pour la démocratie et le développement (UDP); Rassemblement pour la démocratie et l'unité (RDU); Parti mauritanien pour l'union et le changement (Hatem); Front populaire mauritanien (FPM); Pacte national pour la démocratie et le développement (PNDD); Union des forces démocratiques (UFD); Alliance pour la justice et la démocratie/Mouvement pour la rénovation (AJD/MR); Rassemblement national pour le renouveau et le développement (RNRD or Tawassoul); El Wiam

Prime minister: Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf

Key ministers

Civil service: Comba Ba

Culture, youth affairs & sports: Cissé Mint Cheikh Ould Boyde

Defence: Ahmedou Ould Idey Ould Mohamed Radhi

Economic affairs & development: Sidi Ould Tah

Education: Ahmed Ould Baya

Energy, oil & mines: Taleb Ould Abdi Vall

Finance: Thiam Diombar

Fisheries & maritime economy: Ghdafna Ould Ehih

Foreign affairs & co-operation: Hamadi Ould Hamadi

Health: Housseynou Hamady Ba

Infrastructure, urban planning & housing: Ismail Ould Bedde Ould Cheikh Sidiya

Interior & decentralisation: Mohamed Ould Boilil

Justice: Abidine Ould el Khair

Rural development: Brahim Ould M'bareck Ould Mohamed El Moctar

Trade, tourism & crafts: Bomba Ould Daramane

Transport & equipment: Yahya Ould Hademine

Central Bank Governor

Sid'Ahmed Ould Raiss