History of Mauritania

Ghana Empire, 100 CE–1200 Draft, not yet reviewed

The Ghana Empire, also known as simply Ghana, Ghanata, or Wagadu, was an ancient western-Sahelian empire based in the modern-day southeast of Mauritania and western Mali. The first identifiable mention of the imperial dynasty in written records was made by Muḥammad ibn Mūsā al-Khwārizmī in 830. Further information about the empire was provided by the accounts of Cordoban scholar al-Bakri when he wrote about the region in the 11th century. After centuries of prosperity, the empire began its decline in the second millennium, and would finally become a vassal state of the rising Mali Empire at some point in the 13th century.

Seat of power: Koumbi Saleh

Emirate of Trarza, 1640–1902 Draft, not yet reviewed

The Emirate of Trarza was a pre-colonial state in what is today southwest Mauritania. Trarza was one of three powerful emirates that controlled the northwest bank of the Senegal River from the 17th to the 19th centuries CE; the others were the emirates of Brakna, and the Tagant. In the 17th century, the French had established a trading post at the island Saint-Louis in the mouth of the Senegal River. In 1901, French administrator Xavier Coppolani began a plan of peaceful penetration into the territories of Trarza and its fellow emirates.

Seat of power: Mederdra

Mauritania, 1960 to today Draft, not yet reviewed

Mauritania, officially the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, is a country in the Maghreb region of West Africa. In the early 20th century, Mauritania was colonized by France as part of French West Africa. It achieved independence in 1960. The 2008 Mauritanian coup d'état was led by General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, who won subsequent presidential elections in 2009 and 2014.

Seat of power: Nouakchott

Rulers

• Moktar Ould Daddah, President of Mauritania, 1960–1978
• Mustafa Ould Salek, President of Mauritania, 1978–1979
• Mohamed Mahmoud Ould Louly, President of Mauritania, 1979–1980
• Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla, President of Mauritania, 1980–1984
• Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya, President of Mauritania, 1984–2005
• Ely Ould Mohamed Vall, President of Mauritania, 2005–2007
• Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi, President of Mauritania, 2007–2008
• Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, President of Mauritania, 2008–2019
• Ba Mamadou Mbaré, President of Mauritania, 2009–2009
• Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, President of Mauritania, 2019 to today