Mauritania's press: Arabic and French-language media

Mauritania's press relies on the official AMI news agency, private sites such as Sahara Medias, Cridem, Rimnow and Kassataya, plus Radio Mauritanie and TVM, in Arabic and French with some Pulaar, Soninke and Wolof content, nearly all free to read online.

From official bulletins to the 1991 opening

After independence in 1960, news long remained the business of the state and Radio Mauritanie. The 1991 Constitution cleared the way for private weeklies in Nouakchott, often in French, which became the country's first space for pluralist political debate.

Horizons and Chaab, the two state dailies

The public sector publishes two newspapers under the AMI umbrella: Chaab in Arabic and Horizons in French. Their coverage follows the government agenda, cabinet meetings and official trips, which makes them a useful source for legal texts and appointments.

Arabic, French and national languages

Arabic is the official language and dominates online output, while Hassaniya is heard on the radio. French remains very present in print, whereas Pulaar, Soninke and Wolof appear mainly in radio news bulletins broadcast by the public and private stations.

What is covered outside Nouakchott?

A regional print press barely exists. Nouadhibou, Rosso, Kiffa and Nema are covered by AMI correspondents, regional Radio Mauritanie stations and private sites, which report on local incidents, fishing, farming along the Senegal River and border security.

News websites at the heart of the landscape

Sahara Medias, Rimnow and Rimtoday in Arabic, Cridem, Kassataya and Mauriweb in French: digital has overtaken paper. These portals publish around the clock, carry press releases and opinion pieces, and spread their stories widely through Facebook, WhatsApp and video channels.

The Mauritanian News Agency

AMI distributes wires, photos and official reports in Arabic and French. It remains the reference for checking a government decision, a decree or an official figure, although its coverage naturally favours the work of the executive and state institutions.

Listening to Radio Mauritanie and watching TVM

Radio Mauritanie and Television de Mauritanie (TVM) make up the public broadcaster. Since broadcasting was liberalised in 2010, private radio stations and TV channels have also been licensed, and several stream their news bulletins live online and on social networks.

Mauritanians abroad and neighbouring views

The diaspora in France, Senegal and the Gulf reads Cridem and Kassataya widely. For a regional perspective, it helps to compare with the Senegalese press and the Malian press, which often cover the river valley and the Sahel.

Mining, fishing and sport in the news

The economy gets wide coverage: SNIM iron ore at Zouerate, fishing in Nouadhibou and offshore gas projects shared with Senegal. Sport centres on football and the Mourabitounes, the national team, followed closely by the general news sites.

Press freedom: the key facts

The High Authority for the Press and Audiovisual Media (HAPA), created in 2006, regulates the sector. Press offences were partly decriminalised in 2011, but prosecutions over online posts remain possible and journalists have been detained by the authorities.

Free access and the role of French

Almost no Mauritanian site uses a paywall: advertising and classified notices fund most outlets. French-speaking readers have a real choice, though a smaller one than in Arabic, which is why following both languages gives a much more complete picture.

Cross-check before you share

A story often travels from an Arabic site to French-language portals, sometimes without a source. Compare an AMI wire, a private site and an outlet from the Maghreb press before accepting an appointment or a political rumour as fact.

How to follow Mauritanian news from abroad

1. Pick an Arabic site such as Sahara Medias and a French portal such as Cridem to cover both of the country's language spheres.
2. Bookmark AMI for decrees, appointments and cabinet statements published on the same day.
3. Listen to Radio Mauritanie live to hear bulletins in Hassaniya, Pulaar, Soninke and Wolof.
4. Set alerts for Nouakchott, Nouadhibou or Zouerate to receive economic and regional news.
5. Compare a public outlet and a private site on the same political story to gauge differences in tone and framing.
6. Always check the date of an article shared on WhatsApp, since old pieces often resurface during election periods.

Access and subscriptions for Mauritanian media

Useful facts about Mauritania's media

• Languages: Arabic (dominant online), French, Hassaniya on radio, Pulaar, Soninke and Wolof
• News agency: Agence Mauritanienne d'Information (AMI)
• Public broadcasting: Radio Mauritanie and Television de Mauritanie (TVM)
• Regulator: High Authority for the Press and Audiovisual Media (HAPA)
• Time zone: UTC+0, no daylight saving time
• Currency: ouguiya (MRU)
• Key news cities: Nouakchott, Nouadhibou, Zouerate, Rosso

Pitfalls when reading the Mauritanian press

• Mistaking a Facebook page with a name close to a well-known site for the official outlet: check the domain name and posting history.
• Reading only the French-language press and missing debates published in Arabic, which are often more detailed on domestic politics.
• Confusing the line of AMI and the state dailies with that of private sites, which mix reporting, opinion and recycled press releases.
• Sharing an old list of appointments without checking that it matches the latest cabinet meeting.
• Assuming a dropped radio stream means censorship: bandwidth and hosting problems often explain the interruptions.

Your questions about Mauritanian newspapers