When was mauritania colonized

List of subjects Sources Feedback. The foremost problem confronting Mauritania, on becoming independent in after the dissolution of French West Africa , is its relationship with its more powerful northern neighbour, Morocco. At first the Moroccan king refuses to acknowledge the existence of Mauritania, claiming that it is historically linked to Morocco it is the region from which the Almoravids moved north in the 11th century to establish themselves at Marrakech.

In Morocco drops this claim and accepts the existence of Mauritania. But the conflict now shifts to a long-running dispute over the Western Sahara, the barren area to the west of Mauritania. The Western Sahara, colonized by Spain from and subsequently known as the Spanish Sahara , is a desert region between Mauritania and the ocean. Occupied only by a few nomadic tribes, it seems of little value until phosphate deposits are discovered in By the s it is an area disputed between Spain and the region's two neighbours, Morocco and Mauritania.

In an article in , Julie d'Andurain, a professor of contemporary history at the University of Metz in France wrote that the principle of the fight against nomads was to harass them until life becomes impossible for them and take advantage of the few combats to establish the technical superiority of the French. Pierre Bonte, anthropologist and research director at the National Scientific Research Center CNRS in Paris who died in , wrote in that: "Penetration and colonization in Mauritania, as in other countries, saw numerous and varied resistance.

There is no doubt that the village communities in the valley and the tribes have manifested their opposition through revolts and refusals of all kinds. They opposed on their own to defend the land of the ancestors and safeguard their religion, their freedom, and their independence.

Mauritania obtained its independence in It opened the door to new challenges and obstacles, including internal divisions and tensions with regional powers Morocco, Algeria. Unfortunately, there is too little academic work or historiography on the colonial period in Mauritania, that deserves to be enriched, both for Mauritanians and the French.

World , Africa Mauritania: French colonial crimes still under wraps Northwest African country became poorest, as French colonial rulers fleeced locals imposing heavy taxation Mohamed Badine El Yattioui Curbing dissent In , Henri Gouraud was appointed commissioner of the general government in Mauritania and decided to lead a major campaign against those who launched raids. While Mauritania was not as central to colonial interests as some other regions, the French did shift the power balance between some groups, introduce new forms of education systems, and provide new economic opportunities.

While slavery had been widely practiced in the region by all ethnic groups, these ecological shifts along with expanded opportunities for wage labor led to an erosion of this institution. Slavery remains an important issue both in Mauritania and in the international media because, although it was legally abolished in , citizens and activists argue that some vestiges of this institution endure.

Mauritania became independent in , and the first thirty years of independence were marked by single-party or military rule. Since then it has had a series of varying levels of democratic governments, but a coup in and subsequent opposition boycotts of elections suggest that this is still a work in progress.

While the economy has experienced growth in the early 21st century, much of the population continues to live in poverty. The country is also known for its rich musical and poetic traditions as well as for being the home of leading Muslim scholars.

Overviews of Mauritania in English are rare, but there are a variety of good French sources. Austen provides a comprehensive introduction to the Sahara region, with a focus on the trans-Saharan trade. Pazzanita is a useful resource for scholars getting acquainted with this country, providing entries on important persons, events, and institutions. Jourde is helpful for getting an overview of recent political developments and human rights issues. The CIA World Factbook is a good place to go for up-to-date statistics about the country, and the Economist Intelligence Unit: Mauritania has statistics and articles that focus on the economy and politics.

Austen, Ralph A. Trans-Saharan Africa in World History. New York: Oxford University Press, Book provides a brief history of the trans-Saharan trade through the colonial era. Also explores the economic and social role of Islam in the Sahara and details various empires and states that arose during this period. Clearly written, this book would work well as a text in undergraduate classes. The vote was boycotted by most opposition groups. He awaits the decision of the Supreme Court. Image source, Getty Images.

Mauritania formed part of the Paris to Dakar rally before it was moved because of security fears. Mauritania's president, Moktar Daddah, was ousted in a coup. Military coup.