Government and power in Mauritania

Who leads Mauritania, how the World Bank's governance indicators score it, how many women sit in parliament and government, what the state spends and taxes, and the official bodies that hold power to account. System of government: Unitary presidential Islamic republic.

Who leads Mauritania?

• Head of state: Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani (Président de la République islamique de Mauritanie)
• Head of government: Moktar Ould Djay (Premier Ministre de la République islamique de Mauritanie)
• Foreign minister: Mohamed Salem Merzoug (Ministre des Affaires étrangères, de la Coopération africaine et des Mauritaniens à l'étranger de la République islamique de Mauritanie)

Source: Heads of State, Heads of Government, Ministers for Foreign Affairs: Public List (United Nations Protocol and Liaison Service), list dated 15 October 2026. All world leaders.

Governance scores

The World Bank's Worldwide Governance Indicators combine surveys of households and firms with assessments by public, private and non-governmental bodies. Each score runs from 0 to 100; higher means the sources rate governance better. They measure perceptions, and each has a margin of error.

Voice and accountability

Measures how far citizens can choose their government, and freedom of expression, association and the media.

Political stability and absence of violence

Measures the likelihood of political instability or politically motivated violence, including terrorism.

Government effectiveness

Measures the quality of public services and the civil service, and how independent they are from political pressure.

Regulatory quality

Measures the government's ability to make and carry out policies that let the private sector develop.

Rule of law

Measures confidence in and respect for the rules of society, including contract enforcement, property rights, the police and the courts.

Control of corruption

Measures how far public power is used for private gain, including petty and grand corruption and "capture" of the state by elites.

Official bodies that hold power in Mauritania

Government

• Presidency of the Republic
  Presidential decisions, speeches and Council of Ministers communiqués.

Parliament

• National Assembly
  Laws passed, plenary news and deputies of the National Assembly.

Courts

• Constitutional Council
  Decisions on the constitutionality of laws and on election disputes.

Public audit

• Court of Accounts
  Public reports on audits of state accounts and public enterprises.

Public contracts

• Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (ARMP)
  Procurement regulations, tender and award notices, complaint decisions and procurement audits.
• National Public Procurement Control Commission (CNCMP)
  Prior review of public procurement files and notices of tenders and contract awards.

Laws and the official gazette

• Ministry of the General Secretariat of the Government
  The Journal officiel and the texts of laws and decrees.

Government below the national level

• Regions (13, matching the wilayas; Nouakchott region covers 3 wilayas): Regional council (11–25 members; 37 in Nouakchott) and its president elected by voters for five years
• Wilayas (15), moughataas (63) and districts: Wali, hakem and district head appointed by the Council of Ministers
• Communes (about 219): Municipal council (9–21 members) and mayor elected by voters for five years

How local power works in Mauritania

Places in Mauritania

• All 15 wilaya of the capital, Nouakchotts
• Official statistics for Mauritania

Sources

• World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Voice and accountability (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 70f2804fd1e2…)
• World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Political stability and absence of violence (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1317de0c85e1…)
• World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Government effectiveness (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a775e808dc65…)
• World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Regulatory quality (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 83b57e36ff8c…)
• World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Rule of law (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0bccc3c054e8…)
• World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Control of corruption (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3b15a5340cdd…)
• World Bank: World Development Indicators: Seats held by women in national parliament (SG.GEN.PARL.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1ae1dc13981a…)
• World Bank: World Development Indicators: Women in ministerial positions (SG.GEN.MNST.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a4e448a5b8bd…)
• World Bank: World Development Indicators: Military spending (MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a7f6913a783b…)
• World Bank: World Development Indicators: Armed forces personnel (MS.MIL.TOTL.P1), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 fa4663c743ba…)
• World Bank: World Development Indicators: Statistical Performance Indicator (overall score) (IQ.SPI.OVRL), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 08ac7cde9129…)
• World Bank: World Development Indicators: Births registered (SP.REG.BRTH.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 f8d443034ba7…)
• World Bank: World Development Indicators: People using the internet (IT.NET.USER.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0d78dc658329…)

Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.