National

Mauritania is a republic. Its elected president is Maaouya Ould Taya. and its legislature consists of the National Assembly and the Senate. There are 12 political regions.

The government of Mauritania has been civilian since Taya's election victory in January 1992. Registration of 15 political parties took place in 1991, with six candidates standing for the January election. Unrest followed and the African Liberation Forces of Mauritania (FLAM) resumed its struggle.

In the April elections of 1992 the pro-government Democratic and Social Republic Party (PDRS) won 37 seats in contrast to the opposition's 16. The main opposition party under Ould Daddah, the UFD, changed its name to the UFD-New Era.