Mauritania media guide

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, Mauritanians read newspapers on a main street in Nouakchott

Privately-owned outlets provide competition for the state broadcaster, Telediffusion de Mauritanie (TDM). There is easy access to pan-Arab and European satellite TV.

Print newspapers have low circulations and some only publish irregularly. Some have moved to online-only publication.

Media rights groups say self-censorship is commonplace, especially when covering sensitive topics such as the military, corruption, and slavery. Legislation criminalises critical speech and "blasphemy".

Although internet use has risen substantially, driven by mobile access, it still only reaches a minority of the population. However, dozens of online news outlets have emerged.

Internet access is unrestricted. There were 969,000 internet users by December 2021, comprising 20% of the population (Worldinternetstats.com).

Facebook is the leading social media platform.

Press

  • - state-run daily, in Arabic
  • - state-run daily, in French
  • - private, Arabic weekly
  • - private, Arabic daily
  • - private, French-language daily

Television

  • - state-run, operates Elmouritania and Elmouritania 2 and thematic networks
  • - private
  • - private, pro-Islamist
  • Chinguett TV - private
  • - private

Radio

  • - state-run, programmes in Arabic and French; also operates youth network and Koran network
  • Radio Sahara Media FM - private
  • Mauritanid FM - private

News agencies/internet

  • - state-run
  • - private, news website
  • - private, news website
  • - private, news website
  • - private, news website
  • - private, news portal