One of Africa's newest oil producers, the Islamic Republic of Mauritania bridges the Arab Maghreb and western sub-Saharan Africa.

The country has a long history based on who controlled the trans-saharan trade. Large empires arose, one of which even ruled over parts of Spain for a time.  

The largely-desert country presents a cultural contrast, with an Arab-Berber population to the north and black Africans to the south. Many of its people are nomads.