The Bafours were the first settlers of Mauritania. They are the ancestors of the Soninki. The migration of the Berber tribes into the region displaced these Indigenous black Africans south to the Senegal river, but most of them were enslaved.
By 1076, after successfully defeating the Ghana empire, Islamic warrior monks called Almoravid or Al Murabitun completed their conquest of southern Mauritania. These Arabs survived Berber attacks for the next 500 years to dominate Mauritania. Around 1650, warriors of a tribe called Beni Hassan became the ruling class after Mauritania's thirty year war against the Berbers' last effort. Hassaniah, the modern Mauritanian language, is named after this tribe.
By 1076, after successfully defeating the Ghana empire, Islamic warrior monks called Almoravid or Al Murabitun completed their conquest of southern Mauritania. These Arabs survived Berber attacks for the next 500 years to dominate Mauritania. Around 1650, warriors of a tribe called Beni Hassan became the ruling class after Mauritania's thirty year war against the Berbers' last effort. Hassaniah, the modern Mauritanian language, is named after this tribe.
The arrival of the French at the beginning of the twentieth century ended slavery and
stopped warfare in the area. Right after that, the indigenous Africans who were before abolished from the country by the
Moors, started coming back into Mauritania
After a struggle that lasted for decades, Mauritania got its independence in 1960. It was led by Mokhar wel Dadah, the first president of Mauritania
After the French were kicked out, the capitol was changed from Saint Louis in Senegal to Nouakchott (camels on the beach). Larger numbers of ethnic Sub-Saharan Africans like Haalpulaar, Soninke, and Wolof started entering Mauritania. Most of them were French educated, and they took most of the better jobs in the new state. For years to follow, white Mauritanians and Sub-Saharan Africans had conflicts of violence and hardship.
After a struggle that lasted for decades, Mauritania got its independence in 1960. It was led by Mokhar wel Dadah, the first president of Mauritania
After the French were kicked out, the capitol was changed from Saint Louis in Senegal to Nouakchott (camels on the beach). Larger numbers of ethnic Sub-Saharan Africans like Haalpulaar, Soninke, and Wolof started entering Mauritania. Most of them were French educated, and they took most of the better jobs in the new state. For years to follow, white Mauritanians and Sub-Saharan Africans had conflicts of violence and hardship.
In 1978, Wel Dadah was overthrown in a bloodless coup. After that, the military was in control from July 1978 to April 1992. The first multi-party elections of Mauritania were held in July 1991. Maaouiya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya, leading the Democratic and Social Republican Party (PRDS), won the election and stayed in control from 1992 until he was overthrown in August 2005. In his time, the country reached one of its highest economic peaks, and it was one of the safest times in the country's history. The crime rate was at an all-time low. He had other problems though. He threw innocent people in prison, especially religious leaders.
` November 7th 2003 was the date of the third presidential election. Maaouiya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya won these elections again. People were not pleased, especially opposition groups. Somehow president Taya won even though more than half the country opposed his rule. After being accused of cheating, and while attending the Saudi Arabian king Fahed’s
Cfuneral, a bloodless coup took place against Taya, lead by Colonel Ely Ould Mohammed Vall, and some other military commanders. Taya never returned to Mauritania, today he is still in KSA, and he works for the new king.
Vall established the ruling Military Council for Justice and Democracy to run the country. The council dissolved the Parliament and appointed a transitional government. After a long series of elections, Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdellahi was elected President, on April 19.
Today the president is Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, he took control after a bloodless coup against Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdellahi. The reason this coup took place is because Ould Chiekh Abdellahi wanted and tried to dissolve the supreme court of justice, people around the country were scared because the end of this looked like a dictatorship. Mauritania's election are taken place currently, and Aziz is running for the elections, he has great chances to win but some oppostions.
Cfuneral, a bloodless coup took place against Taya, lead by Colonel Ely Ould Mohammed Vall, and some other military commanders. Taya never returned to Mauritania, today he is still in KSA, and he works for the new king.
Vall established the ruling Military Council for Justice and Democracy to run the country. The council dissolved the Parliament and appointed a transitional government. After a long series of elections, Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdellahi was elected President, on April 19.
Today the president is Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, he took control after a bloodless coup against Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdellahi. The reason this coup took place is because Ould Chiekh Abdellahi wanted and tried to dissolve the supreme court of justice, people around the country were scared because the end of this looked like a dictatorship. Mauritania's election are taken place currently, and Aziz is running for the elections, he has great chances to win but some oppostions.