The foreign relations of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania have, since 1960, been dominated by the issues of the Spanish Sahara (now Western Sahara or Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic) and the recognition of its independence by its neighbours, particularly Morocco. Mauritania's foreign relations are handled by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, who is currently Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug.
History
Previously a colony of France, Mauritania gained Independence in 1960, although this was disapproved of by the Arab League due to Morocco's claims on Mauritania. Mauritania applied to join the United Nations in 1960 but was vetoed by the Soviet Union, who voted the next year for Mauritania's admission in exchange for the admission of Mongolia.
Initially, Mauritania continued good relations with France to counterbalance Morocco's ambitions, but by 1962 the country turned away from wholesale support of France and began normalizing relations with its neighbours, eventually establishing diplomatic relations with Mali in 1963 through the Treaty of Kayes, and with Algeria and the United Arab Republic in 1964. In 1963, Mauritania joined the Organization of African Unity (OAU), which led to Morocco's resignation (Morocco did not recognize Mauritania until 1969). With the OAU's and Arab League's encouragement, Mauritania did not seek diplomatic relations with Portugal, Israel or apartheid South Africa; today, following the downfall of the Apartheid system and the decolonization of Portugal's empire, relations with Portugal and South Africa have been normalized. Diplomatic relations with Israel continue to be strained due to the Occupation of Palestine.
Claims to Western Sahara territory In 1976, Mauritania officially annexed a third of the then Spanish Sahara following Spain's withdrawal from the region. Algeria and Morocco responded by withdrawing their ambassadors from Mauritania; additionally, the rebel Polisario group began a guerilla war against both Mauritania and Morocco.
Mauritania withdrew its claims and recognized the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) as the territory's sovereign government in 1980, although this allowed Morocco to take control of the SADR. Mauritania has since declared neutrality in the dispute, seeking a peaceful and expedient end to the conflict, while its diplomatic relations with Algeria and Morocco have resumed.
African Union membership Mauritania joined the African Union (AU) in 1963. Following a military coup d'état in 2005, Mauritania's membership was suspended "until the restoration of constitutional order in the country".African Union suspends Mauritania over coup, Reuters, 4 August 2005. This left Mauritania diplomatically isolated within Africa, as it became the only country on the continent except Morocco without full membership in the AU.Map of African Union
In March 2007 democratic rule was restored in Mauritania, with presidential elections declared "free and fair" by international observers. However, its membership was suspended again following the 2008 coup.
Diplomatic relations List of countries which Mauritania maintains diplomatic relations with: #CountryDate123456789101112131415161718Handloff, Robert E. "Relations with Other African States". In Mauritania: A Country Study (Robert E. Handloff, editor). Library of Congress Federal Research Division (June 1988). This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.19202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546474849505152535455565758596061626364656667686970717273747576777879—808182838485—8687888990919293949596 9798 99 — (suspended)100 101102103104105106107108109110111112113114115116117—118 119 120121 122123124125126 127128 129130131 132133134135136137138139140141142—143144 145146147148149150151152 153154155156157158159160161Unknown162Unknown
Bilateral relations
Country Formal relations beganNotes26 July 1976Both countries established diplomatic relations on 26 July 1976
Argentina is accredited to Mauritania from its embassy in Tunis, Tunisia. Austria is accredited to Mauritania from its embassy in Rabat, Morocco and an honorary consulate in Nouakchott. Mauritania is accredited to Austria from its embassy in Berlin, Germany. 19 July 1965See China–Mauritania relations
The government of Mauritania enjoys close ties with the government of the People's Republic of China. Diplomatic relations were established on 19 July 1965, and the governments remain on good terms. In recent years, they have signed a series of agreements and exchanged a series of diplomatic gestures that have strengthened their relationship.
The Chinese government has recently shown particular interest in Mauritania's oil deposits. Oil production in Mauritania began in February 2006, and by May of the same year the Chinese and Mauritanian governments signed an agreement on social and economic cooperation. In October 2006, the state-owned China National Petroleum Corporation began drilling oil wells in Mauritania and has three other prospecting permits in Mauritania. The Mauritanian government sees oil production as a significant means of boosting economic growth.
During the campaign for Mauritania's presidential elections in March 2007, candidate Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi praised Mauritania's growing ties with China, promising to "continue the path of strengthening the bilateral relations with all my efforts". Cyprus is accredited to Mauritania from its embassy in Tripoli, Libya. Mauritania is accredited to Cyprus from its embassy in Rome. 21 October 1964See Egypt-Mauritania relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 21 October 1964 when UAR (Egypt) officially recognized the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. Finland is accredited to Mauritania from its embassy in Rabat, Morocco. Mauritania is accredited to Finland from its embassy in Brussels, Belgium. 6 December 1960See France–Mauritania relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 December 1960.
The relations date back to the colonial era when Mauritania was part of French West Africa.
Most of Mauritania's developmental assistance in the 1980s was provided by France, which was also the major supplier of private direct investment. Bilateral accords signed with France in 1961 provided for economic, financial, technical, cultural, and military cooperation and aid. Although Mauritania opposed France on Algerian independence, nuclear testing in the Sahara, and French arms sales to South Africa, ties remained cordial through the Daddah term. French citizens worked in Mauritania as technical assistants in the government, administrators, teachers, and judges. Daddah frequently traveled to France, and French development aid flowed to Mauritania. The level of French involvement rose markedly following the outbreak of hostilities in the Western Sahara. Between 1976 and 1979, when Mauritania unilaterally declared peace and withdrew from combat, French aircraft provided air support for Mauritanian troops fighting Polisario forces, and French paratroops were stationed at Nouadhibou.Handloff, Robert E. "Relations with France". In Mauritania: A Country Study (Robert E. Handloff, editor). Library of Congress Federal Research Division (June 1988). This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
Activity by Mauritanian dissidents living in France, together with Mauritania's gradual policy shift toward the Polisario, resulted in a growing coldness toward Paris. In May 1979, Mauritania asked France to remove all its troops from Nouadhibou. France continued to provide a high level of financial aid, although less than requested by the Haidalla government, and this curtailment further strained ties. Following alleged accusations of Moroccan support of a coup attempt in March 1981, Haidalla again turned to France to obtain guarantees of Mauritania's territorial integrity. President of France Georges Pompidou and Haidalla concluded an accord in 1981, as Morocco threatened to carry the struggle against Polisario guerrillas into Mauritanian territory. As Morocco's advancing sand walls increasingly obligated Polisario guerrillas to use Mauritania as a staging area, President Haidalla and, later, President Taya sought and received guarantees of French support in August 1984 and June 1987. 28 November 1960See Germany–Mauritania relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 28 November 1960 when has been accredited first Ambassador of FRG to Mauritania with residence in Dakar, Mr. Reichhold. On 6 May 1961 first Ambassador of Mauritania to FRG Mr. Mamadou Toure presented his credentials to President Lubke. Greece is accredited to Mauritania from its embassy in Rabat, Morocco. Mauritania is accredited to Greece from its embassy in Rome, Italy. 1 December 1965Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 December 1965.
Hungary is accredited to Mauritania from its embassy in Rabat, Morocco. 6 October 2004Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 October 2004. Mauritania is accredited to Iceland from its embassy in Brussels, Belgium. Iceland is accredited to Mauritania from its Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Reykjavík. 22 October 1965Both countries established diplomatic relations on 22 October 1965.
India is accredited to Mauritania from its embassy in Bamako, Mali and an honorary consulate in Nouakchott.27 September 2011Both countries established diplomatic relations on 27 September 2011. Mauritania has a resident embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia. Indonesia is accredited to Mauritania, through its embassy in Rabat, Morocco. Both countries are full members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. 28 October 1999– 6 March 2009 Mauritania declared war on Israel as a result of the 1967 Six-Day War, following the Arab League's collective decision (Mauritania was not admitted to the League until November 1973), and did not reverse that official declaration until at least 1991. Until 1999, Israelis were seemingly oblivious to the ongoing state of war. Mauritania did not abide by moves to recognize Israel's right to exist in the same way as most other Arab countries, after the earlier 1967 Khartoum Resolution.
Little public information exists as to the state of war, and it has been inferred that the declaration of war has been reversed by: behind the scenes meetings between Mauritania and Israel in 1995 and 1996 said to be at the instigation of Mauritania's President Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya; the establishment of unofficial "interest sections" in the respective Spanish embassies of the two capital cities in 1996, and; the official exchange of diplomatic representatives in each other's countries from 27 October 1999.
In 1999 Mauritania became one of three members of the 22-member Arab League to recognize Israel as a sovereign state (the others being Egypt and Jordan) This recognition was given by former President Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya along with his cooperation with United States anti-terrorism activities. The establishment of full diplomatic relations was signed in Washington D.C on 28 October 1999.
After the coup by the Military Council for Justice and Democracy in August 2005, recognition of Israel was kept and maintained.