Early History
Mauritania was first colonized by the blacks and Berbers. In the 11th century it was the center of the Almoravid movement. The Almoravids were members of a union of Muslim Berber people that founded an empire which included modern day Morocco, Algeria and Spain. The Almoravids wanted to spread Islam through western Africa. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to explore Mauritania in the 15th century. In the 19th century, the French gained control. In 1904, France organized Mauritania into a territory. It then became a colony that was added to French West Africa in 1920. It was later called " The French Overseas Territory. "
Before And After Independence.
On November 18, 1960 Mauritania got it's independence from the French and had finally become an independent nation. Mauritania was accepted in the United nations in 1961, although the Moroccans disagreed because they claimed the territory. The Mauritanians and the Moroccans settled the problem by dividing the land of spanish sahara; which is now known as Western Sahara between the two countries. The Mauritanians ruled the southern third of Western Sahara. The Polisario or the native Sahrawi then fought for their land to get independence from both Mauritania and Morocco. Later on there was a rise in the deaths of the Mauritanians and a lack of the military money, which bought the government of Moctar ould Dadah down. The Mauritanians then got drawn out from western sahara.
Democratic And Economic Developments
Colonel Maaouye Ould Sidi Ahmed Taya got control of the government in 1984. Taya's change included loosening up the Islamic laws, fighting the dishonest dealings, and establishing economic improvements. He had also held two elections in 1986, and 1992 which were both won by him. There were also a lot of issues, and conflicts between the blacks and the Moorish-Arabs with his rule. When Mauritania went to war with Senegal because of the border that they shared things had gotten a lot worse with the racial conflicts in 1989. As each country repatriated the other countries people, Mauritania was accused of expelling thousands of blacks.