The Northwest African country of Mauritania struggles with poverty, terrorism, slavery, escalating crime and heavily mined border areas. Here's what you need to know.
Photo © Getty Images/John Seaton Callahan
While the natural beauty of its people, deserts and coastline are undeniable, unfortunately safety in the region is constantly in question.
1. Terrorism
Terrorists have been known to target areas frequented by foreigners, government buildings and any area that attracts locals and foreigners alike, including: clubs, restaurants, embassies, international schools, hotels, expatriate housing compounds, churches and other places of worship, shopping centres, outdoor recreation events, tourist areas and transport hubs or identifiably western interests, including businesses.
The risk of kidnapping is also very high in Mauritania, particularly against Westerners in Nouakchott and Atar. There are regular reports of terrorists planning to kidnap Western tourists, mine workers, oil workers and aid workers in Mauritania.
The threat to Westerners of kidnapping remains very high. To avoid becoming a victim of kidnapping, avoid open terraces and cafes and change your daily routines and travel schedules.
The border areas with Mali, Algeria and Western Sahara are not safe. The risk from bandits, smugglers and extremist groups is particularly high in these areas. In particular, there have been reports that AQIM, the terrorist group responsible for the kidnapping of foreign hostages in North Africa, is active throughout this region and poses a significant security threat.
It is also not safe to travel to the eastern and northern provinces of Mauritania – Tiris Zemmour, Adrar, Tagant, and Hodh el Chargui – due to the continuing high threat from terrorism throughout the country.
2. Crime
Poverty and terrorist activities have lead to increasing crime levels in Mauritania. Violent crime including robbery, rape and assault are on the increase. Also, armed bandits are a major risk across Mauritania. Bandits pose a threat in beach areas, deserted areas and along the road between Mali and Mauritania. When traveling by car, you should keep the doors locked, the windows up and keep valuables out of sight.
3. Getting around: transport in Mauritiania
Many of Mauritania's border areas are not safe due to unexploded landmines, particularly in the area bordering the Western Sahara region. Keep in mind that landmines have been known to shift in sandstorms. Do not stray from well-traveled roads.
Landmines are not the only threat to drivers in Mauritania, very poor road conditions, lack of vehicle maintenance and poor local driving standards means that accidents are common. Driving at night is particularly hazardous due to the risk of shifting sand dunes and accidents with other vehicles and animals.
The risk of kidnapping and terrorist attacks makes taxis and public transportation very unsafe for Westerners.
4. Local laws in Mauritiania
Mauritania is a conservative Islamic country, as such visitors should dress and behave accordingly, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan. It is wise to avoid physical contact between men and women in public as public displays of affection can cause offence, particularly in rural and traditional areas and near mosques, religious shrines and religious educational institutions. Homosexuality remains a punishable offence in Mauritania and drug laws are severe. Those found in the possession of any illegal drug may receive a prison sentence. Mauritania is a dry country. The sale and consumption of alcohol is against the law, although some restaurants do serve it. It is wise to carry your ID at all times, particularly when traveling outside Nouakchott. You should also comply promptly with directions from the police and other Mauritanian security forces.
5. Health
Malaria occurs throughout the year in Mauritania. Chloroquine-resistant strains of malaria are reported. Other insect-borne diseases (including dengue fever, yellow fever, filariasis and leishmaniasis) also occur. You should take measures to avoid insect bites, including using an insect repellent at all times.
Water-borne, food-borne and other infectious diseases (including cholera, hepatitis, measles and tuberculosis) are prevalent, while other diseases (including meningitis, polio, Rift Valley fever and typhoid) are known to occur with outbreaks occurring from time to time.
Boil all drinking water(for at least three mintues) or drink bottled water, and avoid ice cubes and raw and undercooked food. Do not swim in fresh water to avoid exposure to certain water borne diseases such as bilharzia (schistosomiasis).
The temperature in Mauritania is often extremely high. You may become dehydrated quite easily, and not be aware of it. Try to drink water regularly throughout the day, in the hottest months this may mean several litres of water.
You should consider the following vaccinations before traveling here:
- Hepatitis A and B
- Typhoid
- Meningococcus
- Malaria
- Revaccination / booster shots for Measles, Mumps and Rubella and Tetanus-Diptheria
It seems unlikely that Mauritania will be a tourist destination anytime soon, it is not a very safe country and many governments advise against travel to the country for good reason.
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31 Comments
Really? I had a totally different experience in almost every regard. Of course not at borders, but I think this is a negligent review of the situation. 1200 km on great road. No signs of risks you discuss. Please update. I have been in 30 countries less safe.
What's it like for a woman travelling? I'm looking at going from Morocco > Senegal. Obviously want to be safe, but I feel just flying over would be missing a lot. Also, I read a travel blog in which a guy seemed to meet people along the way and stay at their houses, but I'm thinking for a woman perhaps these natural, serendipitous meetings in public places might be less likely?
How old is this information. I have read many reports of travellers going through the area without problems. I am considering it on a few weeks time...From Morocco and through South West Sahara and Mauritania into Senegal. Any info would be useful.
Anyone who is reading this comment let me tell you that it’s exactly the opposite Mauritania is pretty much safe and people there are very much welcoming for tourists you can be sure of that and you guys who wrote this article you better update it I am living there and never heard of a one single case of kidnapping in 20 years and believe me no news can be hide here everyone knows eachother
Well, pretty discouraging info here but fortunately for me, I never pay attention to it; I am on my way there today :)
Well they did move the Dakar in 2009.
We are european expats living in Mauritania for 3 years now. Whilst it is not a very touristic country due to lack of infrastructure Mauritania is a safe place to visit and live
- kidnappings : unheard of since 2009 and only near the border with Mali which is up north.
- Terrorism: no more risk than in Brussels or London. We normally live in Brussels and we feel safer here. Mali terrorists are avoided by the numerous road checkpoints which prevented the 2011 attempt.
- Crime: not higher than any european country. Not one incident in our expat community in these last three years. Rape unheard of.
- getting around : we all travel around often with our children to visit the stunning oasis and wonderful natural parks on the coasts. Again no incidents. Landmines????
- Malaria: no cases in the capital, allegedly present near the senegalese border but definitely not on the desert areas ( most of the country).
Mauritania is poor enough and does not need deterrents for the few tourists needing to come. All our european visitors go back home absolutely thrilled with the experience
Im really interested in mauritania and am British but didnt think you were allowed to buy property in mauritania as a foreigner
What you're describing is so unreal. You fail to mention any numbers/statistics of this ongoing rape, kidnapping, and random shooting party in this imaginary Mauritania of yours.
"Like most parts of West Africa, the risk of an indiscriminate terrorist attack is high". JESUS, this is so wrong. Read the comment, not the article.
Hi
I am so pleased i have read these comments.
Planning travelling from Morocco to Ghana Jan 2020.
Worldnomads is an insurance company. It stands to reason that it paints every country in the worst possible light!
i am reading this after applying for work in Mauritania. i really want to work there i also checked the GOV.UK site that repeats similar problem to world nomads. I know these sites are really covering their @@@ by warning people but can anyone living and working in Mauritania really confirm the situation to me? I worked in middle east for 20 years so i know that a lot of the scare mongering about islam is NOT true but i don't know west africa ? Honest opinions please.
Wow, now I get it. Reading the article and then reading the comments finding out they are an insurance company. Working in tourism for a while I have recently been thinking that the internet mainly misinformed people with travel blogs by people recommending things after staying in a city for two nights. But this makes it even worse. Would be better to go without any prior knowledge than these outright lies.
Thank you, fellow expats and travellers! I have an old friend that lives in Mauritania. I will be visiting him shortly, and was very alarmed by what I read in government warnings, and this article in particular. Reading your personal accounts, and taking my friends advice, makes me feel very encouraged and excited to visit! I want to learn about Touareg music!
I just saw a film on Facebook done by a tourist and apparently Taking photos of yourself and of the local scenery is frowned upon, can anyone explain why this is?
Gets frowned on through out the world it's not a zoo as one lady in Cambodia told me .
I am looking at going here end of the year and I am no nearer to finding out if it's safe or not
I am seafood exporter, didn’t see any crime
In Mauritania . Peaceful country
I have travelled through Mauitania four times from Western Sahara to Senegal. Been along the North border to Atar on sand tracks and on as far east as Chinguetti, a fantastic place to visit. Also crossed dunes south from the border to Akjoujt, then across to the beach bar north of Nouakchott and then south to Senegal. The locals point out that there have been far less terrror incidents in Mauritania than in Europe. The Army is very present along the roads and around towns and nearly all of the people I have met there were friendly and helpful.
this is such a lie I live in Mauritania and the terrorism, slavery, escalating crime and heavily mined border areas. I have never seen this stuff the only crime that is common in Mauritania is not following traffic lights and people get punished by it and the poverty in Mauritania is like poverty in other countries I wanna know who wrote this because then guy must be like 300 years old or stupid , also the only thing you need to fear in this country is that your car cannot get into sand instead of that the country is super safe and we took care of the terorism a long time ago
Hello. I’ve read all the comments they’re delightful as a young Mauritanian after reading this poorly written article about my country I’m happy to have found some truth in the comments.
My country is a safe My country is NOT poor even though it might look like so My country rich of ressources, finances and culture My country has welcoming and nice people.
There is a comment I read about a woman who wanted to travel trough Mauritania I know a French woman who used to travel by herself trough Mauritania several times a year and she did that during 37 years so think if she wants to do it it’d be great experience for her ( still trust no stranger 😌 no matter where you are ).
My family wants to go and live there for year or so, am happy I read the comments.If there's anyone that have studied islamic schools or halaqat there, let me know the best places to study please.Thank you
I would like to also thank everyone that contributed the current information about Mauritania. Reading the "Official" Government warning about Mauritania being a No Go type place where the boogie man runs amuck, I am happy I took time to read the comments. It is a shame to see a Country slandered so.
This post is really disturbing and heartbreaking. As a Mauritanian I am just like any other regular person who lives in Europe or Asia. I hate to read these outdated posts about my country and It sesms to be an endless issue since no one is taking actions against it. I am simply going to say that everything in this post is pure lie and I am not going to bother myself answering some lies. However, my country is poor that is fact but we have rich hearts full of love and kindness for all new visitors. We love tourists and we welcome everyone that is not misled by these rubish posts and still wants to visit our country.
You can contact me on my email if you want more real info about Mauritania.
Why do you need to drink bottled water for at least 3 minutes?
So glad I read the comments after reading that horrible article. I’d love to visit this country but don’t know where to start. I need more information about where to go and what to see.
UK gov advice August 23rd 2021- Be careful! Terrorism
Terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Mauritania, including kidnapping.
UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe abroad and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out more about the global threat from terrorism.
Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreigners. Crowded areas, government installations, transportation networks, businesses with Western interests, and areas where foreign nationals and tourists are known to gather may be at higher risk of attack. You should remain vigilant at all times and follow any specific advice of the local security authorities.
The porous nature of borders in the Sahel region - of which Mauritania is a part - means terrorist groups are able to operate across borders and carry out attacks anywhere in the region.
As seen in Mali, Cote d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso, terrorist groups continue to mount attacks on beach resorts, hotels, cafes and restaurants visited by foreigners. Be especially vigilant in these locations.
The main threat comes from groups associated with Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeer (JNIM). JNIM formed in March 2017 following the merger of Al Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, Ansar-al-Dine and al-Murabitun. These groups remain intent on demonstrating capability and increasing influence across the wider region. Read more about the threat from terrorism in the Sahel region.
There is a heightened threat of terrorist attack globally against UK interests and British nationals, from groups or individuals motivated by the conflict in Iraq and Syria.
Kidnap
There is a threat of kidnapping in Mauritania by AQ-affiliated and other regional Islamist groups originating in the Sahel particularly in areas along the border with Mali. This includes Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM) and Islamic State Greater Sahara (IS-GS), who may travel across the region’s porous border. Terrorist groups have kidnapped foreigners, government officials and civilians in the Sahel region. Further kidnaps are likely.
British nationals are viewed as legitimate targets, including those engaged in tourism, humanitarian aid work, journalism or business sectors. If you’re kidnapped, the reason for your presence is unlikely to serve as a protection or secure your safe release.
The long-standing policy of the British government is not to make substantive concessions to hostage takers. The British government considers that paying ransoms and releasing prisoners builds the capability of terrorist groups and finances their activities. This can, in turn, increase the risk of further hostage-taking. The Terrorism Act (2000) also makes payments to terrorists illegal.
Mauritania is safer than most cities in the US. This travel advisory is way out of date. I am here now and it is totally safe. A shithole, to be certain, but safe. I am not sure what tourist value lies here, I mean it really sucks.
Hello there,
I am planning a trip top Mauritania soon. I would be thankful for info about what to see in the country and how to move around (rent a car?).
christophe_cozien@web.de
Hi guys
I am thinking of visiting Nouakchott next month. I believe its fairly safe. One point. How long does it take to get a Visa on arrival? Is is reasonably quick or will I be at the airport for the duration. Thanks. Trevor Webb
I had to comment. What a load of rubbish. Very safe country to visit. People were super helpful, friendly and an all round good bunch. Be aware like in any country. A whole lot safer than Morocco. I spent hours chatting to locals in my terrible French. Had a blast, especially the train. Please visit and ignore negative information such as US Government website.