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WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
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Mauritania
Index
Figure 14. Organization of Internal Security Forces, 1987
In 1987 internal security forces consisted of the police and
certain paramilitary forces, including the National Guard, the
Presidential Guard, and the National Gendarmerie. The urban-based
police, which in 1986 numbered 1,000 men, was organized under the
director of national security, Captain Ely Ould Mohamed Vall, who
reported to the minister of interior, information, and
telecommunications
(see
fig. 14). Locally, each préfet and
town mayor had authority over the police in his jurisdiction. The
minister exercised command through the governors of the twelve
regions
(see Local Government
, ch. 4).
The police were charged with law enforcement and criminal
investigation. In the name of keeping order, police could ban
demonstrations and meetings or force them to disperse if order
was threatened. They could ban certain persons from certain
areas, put them under house arrest, or expel them from the
country. The police could also suspend individual liberties if
the president declared a state of emergency.
The National Guard, also subordinate to the Ministry of
Interior, Telecommunications, and Information, was responsible
for maintaining law and order in rural areas, although at times
of civil unrest the unit operated in urban areas. In 1987 the
National Guard numbered 1,400. The Presidential Guard was a
subdivision of the National Guard and was responsible for
protecting the president and his home.
Mauritania's National Gendarmerie, or militarized police
force, was responsible for enforcing both civilian and military
law in rural and urban areas. In 1987 the gendarmerie was divided
into six regional companies and numbered 2,500 men. Originally,
this force was part of the army, but by 1987 it had become a
separate force and had headquarters in Nouakchott. It was
responsible to the armed forces chief of staff.
Data as of June 1988
Internal Security Forces
Figure 14. Organization of Internal Security Forces, 1987
In 1987 internal security forces consisted of the police and
certain paramilitary forces, including the National Guard, the
Presidential Guard, and the National Gendarmerie. The urban-based
police, which in 1986 numbered 1,000 men, was organized under the
director of national security, Captain Ely Ould Mohamed Vall, who
reported to the minister of interior, information, and
telecommunications
(see
fig. 14). Locally, each préfet and
town mayor had authority over the police in his jurisdiction. The
minister exercised command through the governors of the twelve
regions
(see Local Government
, ch. 4).
The police were charged with law enforcement and criminal
investigation. In the name of keeping order, police could ban
demonstrations and meetings or force them to disperse if order
was threatened. They could ban certain persons from certain
areas, put them under house arrest, or expel them from the
country. The police could also suspend individual liberties if
the president declared a state of emergency.
The National Guard, also subordinate to the Ministry of
Interior, Telecommunications, and Information, was responsible
for maintaining law and order in rural areas, although at times
of civil unrest the unit operated in urban areas. In 1987 the
National Guard numbered 1,400. The Presidential Guard was a
subdivision of the National Guard and was responsible for
protecting the president and his home.
Mauritania's National Gendarmerie, or militarized police
force, was responsible for enforcing both civilian and military
law in rural and urban areas. In 1987 the gendarmerie was divided
into six regional companies and numbered 2,500 men. Originally,
this force was part of the army, but by 1987 it had become a
separate force and had headquarters in Nouakchott. It was
responsible to the armed forces chief of staff.
Data as of June 1988
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