2011–2012 Mauritanian protests

The 2011–2012 Mauritanian protests were a series of protests in Mauritania that started in January 2011, influenced by and concurrent with the Arab Spring, and continued into 2012. The mostly peaceful protest movement demanded that President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz institute political, economic, and legal reforms. Common themes of protest centered around civil-military relations, slavery (which had only recently been outlawed officially in Mauritania but was still widespread in the country), other human rights abuses the opposition accused the government of perpetrating, and economic issues.

2011–2012 Mauritanian protests
Part of the Arab Spring
Mauritanian youth protesters in Nouakchott on 25 April 2011
Date25 February 2011 (2011-02-25) – 2012
Location
Mauritania
Goals
  • Political and economic changes
  • End of slavery
Methods
  • Demonstrations
  • Self-immolations
  • Strike actions
Parties

Mauritanian opposition groups

  • February 25th Movement
  • UNEM
  • Don’t Touch my Nationality movement
  • IRA Mauritanie
  • Coordination of Democratic Opposition
    • Rally of Democratic Forces
    • Union of the Forces of Progress
    • Tewassoul Party
    • People's Progressive Alliance
    • El Wiam
    • Mauritanian Party of Union and Change
    • Popular Rally of Mauritanian People

Mauritanian government
Lead figures

Saleh Ould Hanenna
President of the Coordination of Democratic Opposition

Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz
President of Mauritania
Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf
Prime Minister of Mauritania

Casualties
Death(s)3
Injuries6

The protests began after the self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi and continued in what would come to be known as the February 25th Movement. Other protests, such as those against the census and student movements calling for Aziz's resignation, continued throughout 2011 and into 2012. As in other countries impacted by the Arab Spring, protestors used social media to coordinate and publicize demonstrations. The reaction of Mauritanian authorities to these protests varied, oscillating between explicit approval, ambivalence, and violent repression.

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