MAURITANIARepublique Islamique de

Mauritanie

Area: 1,030,700 sq. kmPopulation: 1,780,000Capital: Nouakchott

Head of State: Lieut.-Col. Mohamed Khouna OuldHaydalla (President)

Minister of the Interior: Lieut.-Col. Yall Abdoulaye

Mauritania comprises the Nouakchott District and 12 regions(capitals in brackets):

Assaba (Kiffa) Hodh el GharbiAdrar (Atar) (Ayoun el Atrous)Brakna (Aleg) Hodh ech Chargui (Nema)Dakhet Nouadhibou Inchiri (Akjoujt)

(Nouadhibou) Tagent (Tidjikja)Gorgol (Kaedi) Tiris Zemmour (Fderick)Guidimaka (Selibaby) Trarza (Rosso)

The regions are sub-divided into 44 departments (Depar­tements). Like most former French colonies, Mauritania hasboth a national police, the Surete Nationale, and a Gendarm­erie for rural duties. Their organization is similar to that ofthe parent forces, but on a smaller scale. The Gendarmeriehas a personnel strength of some 2500.

Direction de la Surete Nationale, BP 107, Nouakchott

MAURITANIA

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J. Andrade, World Police & Paramilitary Forces© Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited 1985