Mauritania 2020 OSAC Crime & Safety Report
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Mauritania 2020 OSAC Crime & Safety Report This is an annual report produced in conjunction with the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy in Nouakchott. OSAC encourages travelers to use this report to gain baseline knowledge of security conditions in Mauritania. For more in-depth information, review OSAC’s Mauritania country page for original OSAC reporting, consular messages, and contact information, some of which may be available only to private-sector representatives with an OSAC password. Travel Advisory The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses Mauritania at Level 2, indicating travelers should exercise increased caution in Mauritania due to crime and terrorism. Do not travel to areas designated as off limits by the Mauritanian military due to crime and terrorism. Review OSAC’s report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System. Overall Crime and Safety Situation Crime Threats The U.S. Department of State has assessed Nouakchott as being a CRITICAL-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. The Mauritanian government reports 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 tend to not target Westerners specifically, although U.S. nationals and other western expatriates have been the victim of crime in Nouakchott in recent years, including robbery and sexual assault. Criminal gangs are active in the main cities. The Mauritanian government has taken small measures to mitigate crime. For example, 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 a high-profile daylight robbery of the BMCI bank and multiple cases of sexual assault, it is difficult to verify governmental claims of progress in crime reduction initiatives. Instances of street crime 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) to steal their vehicle or belongings. Similar risks of crime exist in Nouadhibou, Rosso and other Mauritanian cities, but data are not available. Review OSAC’s reports, All That You Should Leave Behind. 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 The government of Mauritania designates certain areas as off limits to foreigners and most Mauritanians. Monitor information from the Mauritanian Ministries of Interior and Defense regarding these “No Movement Zones.” U.S. government employees may only travel outside Nouakchott during daylight hours. They must travel in convoys of at least two vehicles when traveling outside of Nouakchott, and must remain in groups throughout the duration of travel. 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. The local currency, the ouguiya, may not be imported or exported. Credit cards are in use only at a few hotels in the capital, and in the northwestern city of Nouadhibou. Travelers should strongly consider paying hotel bills in cash. ATMs are available in Nouakchott and other large cities, but are not secure. Review OSAC’s reports, The Overseas Traveler’s Guide to ATM Skimmers & Fraud, and Taking Credit. Review OSAC’s reports, Hotels: The Inns and Outs and Considerations for Hotel Security. Cybersecurity Issues A recent 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. Mauritania passed its first-ever data privacy laws in 2017. The laws created a national authority for the protection of personal information. There is now a standard format and appropriate institution charged with maintaining the security and confidentiality of personal data, although statistics related to enforcement actions and agency effectiveness are not yet available. Review OSAC’s reports, Cybersecurity Basics, Best Practices for Maximizing Security on Public Wi-Fi, Traveling with Mobile Devices: Trends & Best Practices, Satellite Phones: Critical or Contraband? Transportation-Safety Situation Road Safety and Road Conditions Driving in Mauritania 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 speed limits, traffic signs, or stoplights. It is common for drivers to brush up against adjacent vehicles as they jockey for lane position. Drivers switch lanes without first checking for the presence of other vehicles. Drivers pass illegally on shoulders, and may nudge other motorists when coming back onto the roadway. This blatant disregard for basic safety leads to frequent vehicle crashes and 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. Drive with extreme vigilance, and always wear a 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 its harsh climate make road maintenance and repair especially problematic. Vehicle services are infrequent outside of Nouakchott, and many fuel stations in the interior only sell diesel fuel, meaning gasoline is unavailable in many places. Fixed Police and Gendarmerie checkpoints exist on the outskirts of every city, and random checkpoints are common in urban and rural areas alike. Four major roads leave 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. The road to Rosso is under renovation and in 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 a minimum of two vehicles, 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. Review OSAC’s reports, Road Safety Abroad, Driving Overseas: Best Practices, and Evasive Driving Techniques; and read the State Department’s webpage on driving and road safety abroad. Public Transportation Conditions Public transportation is not safe in Mauritania, particularly in the interior. Taxis and public transportation are not secure forms of transportation for western visitors. 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. Sexual assaults have occurred at night in taxicabs. Refuse rides from strangers; subjects offering rides have lured victims into their vehicles for sexual assault. Review OSAC’s report, Security In Transit: Airplanes, Public Transport, and Overnights. Aviation/Airport Conditions The Nouakchott–Oumtounsy International Airport (NKC) opened in 2016 on the outskirts of the city. The Gendarmerie provides security services for the airport, which makes it one of the safest public facilities in Nouakchott. Passengers and visitors must show photo identification to enter the airport, and then must pass through metal detectors before checking in. Additionally, security personnel x-ray all luggage and other bags before entering the airport. Flights