15 Things You Didn’t Know About Mauritanian Independence
The Islamic Republic of Mauritania celebrates Independence Day on Nov 28. That’s the date in 1960 that the country gained independence from the French. Here are 15 things you didn’t know about Mauritanian Independence and the country’s fight for freedom from colonial rule.
Sources: BBC News Africa , InfoPlease.com, About.com
1. Berber and Arab migrants arrive
Between the third and seventh centuries A.D., Berber and Arab migrants arrived in what is now present-day Mauritania and displaced the original inhabitants.
2. Empire of Ghana
The Empire of Ghana had its capital anchored in what is now Southwest Mauritania during the ninth and 10th centuries A.D.
3. Berber warriors triumph
In 1076, Berber Almoravid warriors defeated the Empire of Ghana.
4. Europeans arrive
In the 1500s the first European traders and fishermen established settlements on Mauritania’s shores.
5. Mauritanian 30-Year War
Arab warriors fought the Berbers for 30 years – from 1644 to 1674 and finally took control.
6. France enters the game
In 1898 France won the allegiance of the Moors after beginning to take control of Southern Mauritania starting the the 1850s.
7. French colonial territory
In 1904 France officially established Mauritania as a colonial territory.
8. Senegalese administration
In 1920 Mauritania became a part of French West Africa and it was administered from Senegal.
9. French overseas territory
Following the end of World War I and the re-division of Africa to the Allies, Mauritania again became known as a French overseas territory.
10. Self government
In 1958 France turned control of Mauritania’s government over to its people and the country became self-governing.
11. Full Independence
Full independence from France came Nov. 28, 1960. That same year, Mauritania made territorial claims on neighboring Spanish Sahara, which had been controlled by Spain.
12. Joins the Arab League
In 1873 Mauritania joined the Arab League.
13. Splitting the spoils with Senegal
Following the full departure of Spain, in 1976 Mauritania and Morocco divided up Spanish Sahara. Guerrillas fighters, however, had another aim and wanted to establish their own independent state. The result is that they fought the military in both countries.
14. Military coups
From 1978 onward Mauritania experienced a succession of military coups with one leader after another deposed. All but one were more or less dictators. In August 2008, the military ousted President Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi — Mauritania’s first and only democratically elected leader.
15. Al Qaeda connection
Mauritania has a strong connection to al-Qaeda these days and the terror organization has been waging war in the country since late 2007 when four French tourists where murdered in an attack. Al-Qaeda took credit for it. This was not the last time foreigners were targeted by the terrorist group in Mauritania.