Dromedary Camel
Dromedaries have been called the ships of the desert because they can carry heavy loads for days across the Sahara without needing water.
Flag of Mauritania
Field Report
Mauritania is a large country in West Africa, tucked between the Atlantic Ocean on the west and the sweeping sands of the Sahara Desert in the north and east. Most of the people who live there are Moors, Berbers, and West African ethnic groups who have herded camels and traded across the desert for thousands of years. Very few people in Mauritania have ever heard about Jesus, which means Christians around the world have a special opportunity to pray for them.
From the Field Notebook
Dromedary Camel
Dromedaries have been called the ships of the desert because they can carry heavy loads for days across the Sahara without needing water.
Dorcas Gazelle
This small, sand-colored gazelle survives the scorching Mauritanian desert by getting most of its water from the plants it eats.
African Spurred Tortoise
The world's third-largest tortoise digs deep burrows in the Sahel to escape the midday heat and can live for more than a century.
Thieboudienne
This hearty dish of rice and fish slow-cooked with tomatoes and vegetables is considered the national meal and is shared from a large communal platter.
Zrig
A refreshing drink made from camel milk mixed with water and sometimes a little sugar, zrig is offered to guests as a sign of welcome across the desert.
Méchoui
A whole lamb roasted slowly over an open fire until tender, méchoui is prepared for celebrations and gatherings with family and community.
About 90 percent of Mauritania is covered by the Sahara Desert, making it one of the most arid countries on earth.
Mauritania was one of the last countries in the world to officially abolish slavery, doing so by law in 1981 and making it a crime only in 2007.
The ancient city of Chinguetti was once such an important stopping point for pilgrims crossing the Sahara that it became known as the seventh holiest city in the Islamic world.
Mauritania is home to one of the longest trains in the world — an iron-ore freight train that stretches up to 3 kilometers and crosses the desert from the mines to the coast.
The Banc d'Arguin National Park along Mauritania's coast hosts one of the largest gatherings of migratory shorebirds in the world, with millions passing through each year.
Daily Life
68
Years life expectancy
60%
Can read and write
80%
Kids go to school
Missions Field Report
Mauritania is home to 17 distinct people groups — 15 of them haven’t yet heard about Jesus.
Nearly all Mauritania's people follow Islam (99.2%). Less than 1% of people in Mauritania are Evangelical Christians.
What People Believe
Unreached People Groups
These are communities of people who haven’t had the chance to hear about Jesus yet. They need missionaries — and they need kids like you to pray for them.
Moor, Haratine (Black)
2,571,000 people
Moor, Beidane (White)
1,728,000 people
Fuuta Torro
331,000 people
Soninke
271,000 people
Tuareg, Tamasheq
145,000 people
Prayer Journal
Tick each one as you pray. God hears every word.