Mauritania 2019 Crime & Safety Report This is an annual report produced in conjunction with the Regional Security Office (RSO) at the U.S. Embassy in Nouakchott, Mauritania. The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses Mauritania at Level 3, indicating travelers should reconsider travel to the country due to crime and terrorism. Overall Crime and Safety Situation The U.S. Embassy in Nouakchott does not assume responsibility for the professional ability or integrity of the persons or firms appearing in this report. The American Citizen Services (ACS) Unit cannot recommend a particular individual or location and assumes no responsibility for the quality of service provided. Review OSAC’s Mauritania-specific page for original OSAC reporting, Consular alerts, and contact information, some of which may be available only to private-sector representatives with an OSAC password. Crime Threat There is serious risk from crime in Nouakchott. Crime rates in Nouakchott are difficult to quantify, as the national government only loosely tracks and reports consolidated crime statistics. While crime data is generally available at the local and community level, the collection, reliability, and dissemination of such information is impossible to assess. It is also highly probable that many crimes go unreported, further skewing what little data is available. In this context, the Department of State assesses that actual crime rates in Mauritania are higher than those reported for most other countries. There has been an increase in violent (e.g. murder, assault, battery, robbery, occupied burglary, kidnapping, carjacking) and non-violent (e.g. theft, vehicle burglary, vandalism, unoccupied burglary) crimes since 2015, all of which predominately affects Mauritanians; criminals do not specifically target Westerners. Criminal gangs are active in the main cities. A high-profile 2017 daylight robbery of the BMCI bank underscores that crime has become a serious and visible problem. The Mauritanian government has taken small measures to mitigate rampant crime; the National Guard and Gendarmerie patrol the highest-crime neighborhoods, particularly in southern Nouakchott. These initiatives achieved a reported decrease in criminal activity by the end of 2017, but with law enforcement increasingly implicated in crimes, including the BMCI robbery and a case of sexual assault, it is difficult to verify governmental claims of progress in crime reduction initiatives. 1 The increase in crime has markedly affected the expatriate community in Nouakchott. Recent examples include: In October 2018, a vehicle burglary in front of a U.S. residence In March 2018, a violent sexual assault on a U.S. citizen at the beach In July 2018, a burglary at an occupied U.S. residence In October 2017, an attempted sexual assault on a French citizen in Tevragh-Zeina In September 2017, a sexual assault against a French citizen at the beach In July 2017, a home invasion robbery with aggravated assault against a U.S. citizen In 2017, two reported occupied home burglaries against U.S. citizens Incidents of street crimes and crimes of opportunity are also on the rise in Nouakchott. Typical street crimes include pickpocketing, purse snatching, mobile phone theft, theft from vehicles, and mugging. There are also reports of pedestrians flagging down motorists (a common type of ride sharing) in order to steal their vehicle or belongings. The U.S. Embassy prohibits its employees from walking in restricted zones during daylight hours and from walking alone or in groups of any size during nighttime hours. Similar risks of crime exist in Nouadhibou, Rosso and other Mauritanian cities, but data are not available. Cybersecurity Issues A recent International Telecommunication Union (ITU) report ranked Mauritania 124th globally in its commitment to cybersecurity. The ITU considers Mauritania to be in the initiating stage of cybersecurity, meaning it has only just started to make commitments to the issue. Other Areas of Concern The U.S. Department of State recommends against all non-essential travel to the following areas: The Mauritania-Mali border (along the Assaba, Hodh el Gharbi, and Hodj el Chargui regions) The Hodh El Charghi and Hodh El Gharbi regions of southeastern Mauritania The eastern half of the Assaba region (east of Kiffa and South of the Department of Hamoud) The eastern half of the Tagant region (east of Tidjika) The eastern half of the Adrar region (east of Chinguetti) The Zemmour region of northern Mauritania U.S. Embassy staff members may only travel to these regions with Embassy-provided security support. U.S. government employees must obtain special authorization to travel outside Nouakchott, and may only travel during daylight hours. Travel in convoys of at least two vehicles when traveling outside of Nouakchott, remain in groups throughout the duration of travel, and avoid travel after dark. The U.S. government’s ability to assist U.S. citizens – even in emergencies -- is limited in Mauritania due to security concerns and the country’s lack of infrastructure. 2 Transportation Safety Situation For more information, review OSAC’s Report, Security in Transit: Airplanes, Public Transport, and Overnights. Road Safety and Road Conditions Driving in Mauritania — especially in the cities — can be extremely dangerous. Traffic rules and driver etiquette differ considerably from U.S.-style rules of the road; many Mauritanians drive without regard for traffic signs or stoplights. It is very common for drivers to brush up against adjacent vehicles as they jockey for lane position; many drivers switch lanes without first checking for the presence of other vehicles. It is also common for drivers to pass illegally on shoulders or nudge other motorists when coming back onto the roadway. This blatant disregard for basic safety leads to many vehicle crashes and frequent injuries to drivers and passengers. To reduce the likelihood of accident or injury, assume a defensive driving posture. This often means yielding the right of way to drivers that are more aggressive. As such, it is important to factor in additional driving time when attending meetings or making appointments. Additionally, roadway obstructions and hazards caused by drifting sand, animals, and poor maintenance often plague motorists. Pedestrians often attempt to cross busy streets without waiting for cross traffic to slow or stop. These hazards, when combined with the number of untrained drivers and poorly maintained vehicles, make heightened caution imperative. Drivers should be extremely vigilant, and all vehicle occupants should always wear their seat belts. Avoid nighttime driving. Do not travel alone into the desert or after dark outside of major urban areas due to road safety concerns. Overland travel is difficult and roadside assistance is non-existent. The country’s size (larger than Texas and New Mexico combined) and harsh climate make road maintenance and repair especially problematic. Vehicle services are limited outside of Nouakchott, and many fuel stations in the interior only sell diesel fuel, meaning gasoline is unavailable in many places. In terms of infrastructure, there are four major roads leaving Nouakchott, all of which have two asphalt lanes. Due to the sparse vegetation and a lower population density north of Nouakchott, travel along the roads toward Nouadhibou and Atar is slightly safer than travel to the east or south. The Road of Hope and the road to Rosso frequently run through villages and livestock grazing land, and have steep drops at the edge of the roadway. These features, combined with rapid changes in elevation, often limit visibility and create driving hazards. Further, the road to Rosso is under renovation and in extremely poor condition. Even small amounts of rain can make paved roads impassable for cars without high clearance – even in Nouakchott – as drainage systems in the city are dysfunctional. Plan on this route requiring extra time. The U.S. Embassy allows travel outside of the city for staff members, but all trips require prior approval, a minimum of two cars, multiple means of communication, spare tires, off-road recovery kits, and adequate food and water. Private travelers should have a local guide, along with at least one additional vehicle in case of breakdown. A GPS receiver and satellite phone are essential when traveling in remote areas. The telecommunications infrastructure, including cellular telephone coverage, is limited. Give an itinerary to a friend or relative with instructions to alert proper authorities if communication from the travelers is significantly overdue. 3 For more information on self-driving, review OSAC’s Reports, Driving Overseas: Best Practices and Road Safety in Africa. Public Transportation Conditions U.S. Embassy personnel may not use public transportation; visitors should likewise avoid it. Almost all taxis and other forms of public transportation are unregulated and in poor condition. Numerous sexual assaults have occurred at night in taxicabs. Refuse rides from strangers; subjects offering rides have lured victims into their vehicles for sexual assault. Aviation/Airport Conditions The Nouakchott–Oumtounsy International Airport (NKC) opened in 2016 on the outskirts of the city. The previous airport was located close to the government district near the center of town, and is open for non-travel related activities. The gendarmerie provides security services for the airport, which