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 in 2011, legislative in 2012 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: Hamadi Ould Hamadi
Economic affairs & development: Sidi Ould Tah
Energy & oil: Wane Ibrahima Lamine
Finance: Amedi Camara
Fisheries & maritime economy: Ghdafna Ould Ehih
Foreign affairs & co-operation: Naha Mint Hamdi Ould Mouknass
Health: Cheikh El Moctar Ould Horma Ould Babana
Industry & mines: Mohamed Abdallahi Ould Oudaa
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
Secondary & tertiary education: Ahmed Ould Baya
Trade, tourism & crafts: Bomba Ould Daramane
Transport & equipment: Yahya Ould Hademine
Central Bank Governor
Sid'Ahmed Ould Raiss