Mauritania

Year-end Overview

Plan Overview

Operational environment

As of November 2020, there are some 67,200 people of concern to UNHCR in Mauritania, the majority of whom originate from the Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali and the Syrian Arab Republic. In 2021, subject to the country’s overall security situation remaining stable and ongoing donor support, significant progress on refugee protection is possible, in line with the Global Compact on Refugees.
 
UNHCR provides protection and assistance to some 62,000 Malian refugees in the arid south-east region where Mbera refugee camp is located, and to some 4,200 urban refugees and asylum-seekers in the cities of Nouakchott and Nouadhibou. In 2020, there were no voluntary returns from Mauritania to neighboring Mali due to COVID-19-related border closures, and the deteriorating political and security situation in Mali. Due to these same reasons, large scale returns of Malian refugees to Mali are also not expected in 2021.
 
In 2019, Mauritania pledged at the Global Refugee Forum to adopt draft asylum legislation in 2020. Despite Mauritania’s welcoming stance, its ratification of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, the 1967 Protocol and the 1969 OAU Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa, an asylum law is yet to be adopted. Progress was slowed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and in 2021, UNHCR will continue advocating the adoption of asylum legislation.
 
In urban areas, UNHCR will respond to the protection needs of people of concern, supporting the Government with registration and refugee status determination.
 
In 2021, UNHCR will pursue the inclusion of people of concern in national systems and public services, and will support enhancing self-reliance opportunities for refugees and host communities, in alignment with the Global Compact on Refugees and in coordination with the Government, UN agencies and development actors.
 
UNHCR will also strengthen efforts for peaceful coexistence between refugees and host communities, notably through greening Mbera camp and its surroundings, introducing renewable energies and enabling sustainable shelter strategies.
 
By adjusting its programmes to the COVID-19 crisis, UNHCR will continue providing protection and life-saving assistance to refugees and asylum-seekers. 

Key priorities

In 2021, UNHCR will focus on: 

• Advocating the inclusion of refugees in national systems, notably in the areas of health, social protection, water, sanitation and hygiene, access to livelihoods, financial inclusion and urbanization, working in close cooperation with development actors and the Government. 
• Advocating the adoption of the asylum legislation, while supporting capacity building of national institutions to deal with refugee issues. 
• Working with partners to ensure refugees in Mauritania can enjoy their basic rights, including access to education, health and documentation.