Discover
The identity of the nation
Mauritania sits at the meeting point between the Sahara Desert and the Atlantic Ocean, in the northwest corner of Africa. It is a bridge between the Arab world to the north and sub-Saharan Africa to the south, and that mix shows up in the population itself: on one side the Bidhan Moors (of Arab and Berber origin) and the Haratin (descendants of former slaves), and on the other peoples such as the Fulani, Soninke and Wolof, tied to the Senegal River and to Black Africa.
Nearly the entire population is Muslim, and the Islamic faith shapes daily life profoundly, from the prayer schedule to the country’s own official name, the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. Leaving Islam is treated as a crime under local law, which makes conversion to Christianity a step taken in absolute secrecy, almost always at the cost of losing family and one’s place in the community.
The desert’s nomadic heritage still marks the culture, even amid rapid urbanization around Nouakchott. Tea served in three increasingly sweet rounds and the spoken word, in the form of poetry and stories passed down from generation to generation, remain at the heart of Mauritanian hospitality. At the same time, the country carries a historical wound: for centuries it practiced slavery, and even though it was the last country in the world to abolish it by law, forms of servitude still persist in some regions.
From the standpoint of the gospel, Mauritania is among the least reached nations in the world. Practically all of its peoples, from the Moors who hold most of the government and commerce to the groups in the south along the Senegal River, remain without a church of their own, alive in their language and culture. There is no freedom to proclaim the faith publicly, and the few known Mauritanian Christians live their faith in complete privacy.
Even so, there is a quiet hope: relationships of trust, radio and other media in Hassaniya (the local everyday Arabic) and in Pulaar, and the hospitality of the people themselves open small doors where the Word can be planted. Praying for Mauritania is praying for an entire people who still wait to hear, in their own language, that they are loved by God.
- Before the arrival of the Europeans, nomadic Berber and Arab peoples control the trans-Saharan trade routes for salt, gold and slaves.
- 11th century The Berber Almoravid empire arises in the region and helps spread Islam across much of northwest Africa.
- 15th century Portuguese navigators reach the Atlantic coast and begin contact with Europe.
- 1904 The region becomes a French colony, part of French West Africa.
- 1960 Independence from France, on November 28.
- 1981 Mauritania becomes the last country in the world to officially abolish slavery, by presidential decree.
- 2007 A new law allows slave owners to be prosecuted, but the practice continues in reality.
- Today A country of an overwhelmingly Muslim majority, with a small foreign Christian presence and entire peoples still without a church of their own.
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Arabicofficial language; the Hassaniya dialect is the most spoken in daily life
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Frenchused in commerce, higher education and administration, a legacy of colonization
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Pulaar (Fula)spoken by the Halpulaar, a southern people tied to the Senegal River
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Soninkelanguage of a southern people, linked to the ancient Ghana Empire
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Wolofspoken by communities in the southwest, on the border with Senegal
Mauritania sits in the northwest corner of Africa, between the Sahara Desert and the Atlantic Ocean, serving as a bridge between the Arab world of the continent's north and Black Africa to the south. Almost the entire territory is desert or semi-desert, and the Senegal River, on the southern border, forms the only truly fertile strip of land in the country.
Major cities
- NouakchottCapital and largest city, built up from the desert along the Atlantic
- NouadhibouMain fishing port and the country's iron ore export hub
- ZouératMining town in the north, the center of the iron ore extraction that sustains the country
- KiffaCommercial hub of the interior, in the Assaba region
- RossoBorder town on the Senegal River, the main crossing point into the neighboring country
- AtarHistoric oasis on the Adrar plateau, gateway to the desert
Climate and temperature
Thiéboudienne
Fish cooked with rice and vegetables in a tomato sauce, the country's most popular dish.
Méchoui
Whole lamb roasted over coals, served at festivals and large family gatherings.
Couscous
Steamed wheat semolina, served with meat and vegetables in sauce.
Mauritanian tea (atay)
Sweet green tea served in three increasingly mild rounds, a central ritual of local hospitality.
Zrig
Camel or goat milk whisked with water and sugar, a traditional nomadic drink offered to visitors.
Dates
Dried fruit from the desert oasis palm trees, a vital food for caravans for centuries.
Understand
Culture and spirituality
2a · The culture
Desert hospitality
Welcoming a visitor, even a stranger, is an almost sacred duty among the nomadic peoples.
The tea ritual
Serving three rounds of green tea, each sweeter than the last, is central to any visit or negotiation.
Nomadic heritage
Much of the cultural identity comes from desert life, even amid growing urbanization.
Poetry and oratory
Oral tradition, poems and song are highly valued as expressions of self and social status.
Social stratification
Historical differences between the Bidhan (Moors of Arab and Berber origin), the Haratin (descendants of former slaves) and the peoples of the south still shape social relations.
Modesty in dress
Clothing that covers the body, especially for women, expresses modesty and faith.
- Photographing people without asking permission Many consider photography without consent an invasion of privacy.
- Eating, drinking or smoking in public during Ramadan This is seen as disrespectful to the majority population's faith.
- Refusing the tea offered Accepting the three rounds of tea is a sign of respect for local hospitality.
- Wearing short or tight clothing Modesty in dress is expected, especially for women.
- Speaking openly about religious conversion The topic is extremely sensitive and can put people in real danger.
- Discussing the topic of slavery directly or accusingly It is a sensitive historical wound that calls for tact and listening.
2b · The field
Areas of spiritual battle and cultural captivity to cover in prayer. Tap each point to understand:
Islamic law makes it nearly impossible to proclaim the Christian faith openly in the country.
Leaving Islam is treated as a very serious crime, which imprisons hearts through fear.
Inherited hierarchies among the Bidhan, the Haratin and the peoples of the south still divide society.
Even though banned by law, forms of servitude still hold entire families captive in some regions.
Amulets and magical practices mix with everyday religiosity.
The vastness of the Sahara leaves entire communities with no contact with the gospel at all.
Being Mauritanian is so tied to Islam that the Christian faith sounds like something foreign.
Growing desertification and rural poverty increase the vulnerability of families.
Migration from the countryside to Nouakchott breaks family and community ties.
Converting means risking one's family, marriage and belonging for life.
Being a Christian in Mauritania means, in practice, living out one’s faith in complete silence. The Constitution declares Islam the state religion, and the law provides for the death penalty for anyone who leaves Islam, although no execution has been recorded to date. That alone is enough to keep any conversion in absolute secrecy.
The few native Mauritanian Christians, converts from Islam, face the greatest risk: they can lose their family, marriage, inheritance and even citizenship if their conversion becomes public. Foreign Christians living in the country are tolerated as long as they keep their faith strictly private; any gesture understood as an attempt to persuade a Muslim to change religion can lead to arrest and deportation.
The result is a practically invisible church, with no buildings or public gatherings, sustained by a few believers who know one another in silence. State surveillance of communications and social media makes any attempt at fellowship or discipleship even more difficult.
The persecution score runs from 0 to 100: the higher it is, the greater the pressure on Christians.
Mauritania has 17 people groups, and 15 of them, nearly 90%, are considered unreached with the gospel. Among them are the Bidhan and Haratin Moors themselves, who together make up most of the country's population. Peoples of the south, such as the Fulani, Soninke and Wolof, also remain largely without a living church in their own language and culture. It is one of the countries in the world with the smallest Christian presence, and each of these peoples still waits for someone to bring the good news in their own language.
- 5.2M Unreached 99,8%
- 5K Minimally reached 0,1%
- 8K Superficially reached 0,1%
- 0 Partially reached 0%
- 0 Significantly reached 0%
- 15 Unreached 88,2%
- 1 Minimally reached 5,9%
- 1 Superficially reached 5,9%
- 0 Partially reached 0%
- 0 Significantly reached 0%
Source of people group data: Joshua Project (joshuaproject.net). Estimates, may vary.
Berber, Masna Frontier
Soninke Frontier
Wolof Frontier
Tuareg Tamasheq Frontier
Fuuta Torro Frontier
Berabish Bedouin Frontier
Wolof, Lebou
Source: Joshua Project. Estimates, may vary.
Pray
Intercede for this nation
Every nation carries a redemptive purpose. Marks that seem woven into the identity God desires to restore:
Go
Practical details for those who want to go
Local time
Cost of living
one of the lowest in West Africa
Cost by city
Reference values (source: Numbeo). Confirm before traveling.
Practical points for those who go
- Learn basic Arabic or French: English is rarely spoken outside international circles.
- Dress modestly: clothing that covers arms and legs is recommended, especially for women.
- Accept the tea offered: refusing the three rounds can come across as an insult.
- Ask permission before photographing: never photograph people without asking first.
- Bring cash: cards are rarely accepted outside Nouakchott.
- Stay well hydrated: the desert heat is extreme, avoid the midday sun.
- Respect prayer times: businesses may pause during prayers, especially on Fridays.
- Plan travel with extra time: desert roads are long and can be unpredictable.
Send and sustain
Not everyone goes, everyone takes part
Not everyone goes. Everyone takes part.
Behind every worker among these peoples stands a network of people who pray without ceasing, care for the family left behind, and faithfully sustain the work. Sending is mission too.
Start with your church: introduce this nation, adopt it in ongoing prayer, and walk alongside those God is raising up to go.