Mauritania is an Islamic republic and a semi-presidential democracy, though it has a history of military rule and coups since its 1960 independence. The political system is centralized, with power focused in the executive branch, but recent years have seen limited decentralization and a push for greater democratic participation. Key issues in Mauritania’s politics include managing the national identity in a multi-ethnic country, combating jihadist threats in the Sahel, developing natural resources like gas and green hydrogen, and addressing poverty and human rights concerns.