At stake in this election:

• The office of President of Mauritania

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA
• Head of Government: Prime Minister Sidi Mohamed Ould BOUBAKAR
• Assembly: Mauritania has a bicameral Legislature consisting of the Senate (Majlis al-Shuyukh) with 56 seats and the National Assembly (Majlis al-Watani) with 81 seats.

Description of electoral system:

• The President is elected by popular vote to serve a 6-year term.
• In the Senate (Majlis al-Shuyukh) 56 members are elected by municipal leaders to serve 6-year terms*. In the National Assembly (Majlis al-Watani) 81 members are elected by popular vote to serve 5-year terms.

* Senators are elected by indirect vote by municipal leaders to serve 6-year terms. A part of the seats up for election every two years.

Main Candidates in the Presidential race:

• Maaouya Ould Sid' Ahmed TAYA
  • Party: Republican Democratic and Social Party (PRDS)
• Mohamed Khouna Ould HAIDALLA
  • Party: Independent
• Ahmed Ould DADDAH
  • Party: Independent
• Meeaoud Ould BOULKHEIR
  • Party: Independent
• Moulaye Elhacen Ould JEID
  • Party: Independent
• Aicha Mint JEDAANE
  • Party: Independent

Last Presidential election:

• The last presidential election was held on December 12, 1997 with President Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA securing 90.9% of the votes.

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 2,974,686 (2003)
• Registered Voters: 1,203,668 (1997 Based on the 1997 presidential elections.)

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 1,482,332 (2003)

·         Is Mauritania a signatory to CEDAW: No

·         Has Mauritania ratified CEDAW: Yes, accession (10 May 2001)

·         Gender Quota: Yes

·         Female candidates in this election: Yes

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 3 (National Assembly) (following the 2001 elections)

·         Human Development Index Position: 156 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: Very High (2014)

Disability Data:

·         Is Mauritania a signatory to CRPD: No

·         Has Mauritania ratified CRPD: Yes, accession (3 April 2012)

·         Population with a disability: 446,202 (est.)