Africa

Mauritania

{This graph represents scores that have been modified by CIMA so that higher scores indicate a better media situation. It is intended to show trends over time; each index measures significantly different factors of press freedom. To see an explanation for how this graph was created, click here.}

IREX Score: 1.54	[IREX Methodology]
{Higher is Better, Score Ranges from 0 to 4.00}

IREX Description:

In March 2007, Mauritanians elected Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi as the new president. The elections were judged transparent by observers and by the international community.

However, after leading the country for 15 months, Abdallahi's regime was hit by a political and institutional crisis, and internal dissent. On August 6, 2008, Abdallahi was overthrown in a coup d'état led by a sacked former general, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, and two of his fellow officers. He set up the high Council of State to lead the country.

However, he was put under strong pressure by the democratic opposition and the international community, which both called for the constitutional order to be restored. Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz finally gave up some power by accepting the International Contact Group's crisis plan, which had been patched together in Dakar. The crisis plan included presidential elections in July 2009. Aziz won, with more than 52 percent of the vote.

A notable change in the landscape of the Mauritanian media is the growing use of the Internet and blogging—there is even a Union of Mauritanian Bloggers. These activities have attracted the attention of the authorities, and in 2009, two cyberjournalists tied to the online news website taqadoumy.com were arrested, and the website was shut down for 24 hours. The incident exposed a legal vacuum to protect the rights of online journalists.

Read more on IREX’s site…

Freedom House Score: 53 (Partly Free)	[Freedom House Methodology]
{Lower is Better, Score Ranges from 0 to 100}

RSF Score: 25.83	[RSF Methodology]
{Lower is Better, Score Ranges from 0 to ~120}

Reporters Without Borders Description:

The country is settling down after five years of sometimes difficult switches between military and civilian governments. Media laws are the best in the sub-region and press freedom is satisfactory, but the recent imprisonment of an online journalist badly damaged this good reputation.

Africa

Mauritania

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