Food in Mauritania

Mauritania has four broad food-producing environments: the arid zone, which covers about 80% of the territory; the river-valley and Walo areas; rainfed Diéri and Bas-fonds areas; and oasis and coastal systems. Agricultural land covers less than 0.5% of the country, so rural livelihoods depend strongly on farming, livestock and seasonal conditions. Domestic production supplies about 30% of cereal consumption, while red meat supplies close to the national demand and milk supplies about 30%. Wheat flour is the most widely consumed cereal. Rice, vegetables, sugar and cooking oil rely substantially on imports. Irrigated rice is concentrated in the southern river area. Rainfed farming produces sorghum, millet and maize when rainfall allows. Pastoral households keep camels, cattle, goats and sheep for milk and meat. Oases are associated with dates. Atlantic fisheries are a major resource, including the traditional fishing communities known as Imraguen or Imraguènes around the Banc d’Arguin, but domestic fish consumption remains below the country’s potential. Limited cold storage and transport increase post-catch losses. Common staples include millet, wheat, barley, rice and sorghum. Dishes and foods found in Mauritania include Mauritanian couscous, Leksour, Tiéboudienne with rice and fish, yassa, mafé, tajine, méchoui, bénafa, Kesra or fṭīr barley bread, and Tichṭār or Tidikitt dried meat. Drinks include mint tea, camel milk, Zrig, Bissap and Tajmakht. A typical hospitality pattern may combine dates, a shared dish and mint tea. Urban food choices in Nouakchott and Nouadhibou include imported staples, fish and restaurants or markets; southern river regions rely more on rice, rainfed cereals and livestock; Adrar and Tagant combine oasis foods with pastoral products; and Hodh Ech Chargui and Hodh El Gharbi face stronger seasonal food stress. Ordinary food purchases do not require a formal eligibility assessment. During crises, support can involve FNRCAN or DCAN and social-protection channels connected with the social registry and Tekavoul. Mauritania has no evidenced nationwide entitlement to free food. During the June-August 2025 lean period, about 590,000 people faced crisis-level or worse food insecurity, including about 11,900 at a more severe level. In Hodh Ech Chargui, about 44,000 Malian refugees were acutely food insecure, while the M’Berra refugee settlement had about 120,000 residents in June 2025. Nutrition indicators show substantial risks: exclusive breastfeeding was 27% in SMART 2022, acute malnutrition was 13.5% including 2.7% severe cases, stunting was 24.8%, anaemia affected about 75% of children under five, and fewer than 10% of households had adequately iodized salt in SMART 2018. Aftout, Hodh El Gharbi and Hodh Ech Chargui are priority areas for nutrition and food-security action. Food prices depend on imports, transport, harvests and the season. From May to July 2025, wheat-flour retail prices varied but were near or below the previous year’s level in July. Imported rice was broadly stable in May and June and was up by as much as 10% year on year in July. No reliable nationwide menu or restaurant price standard covers all locations, so the actual cost of eating depends on the city, market, product and season. AMSSA was established by Decree No. 025-2023. Under the Ministry of Commerce and Tourism, it assesses risks and inspects local and imported food across the chain from raw materials to consumers, including conformity checks. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty is relevant to production and agricultural measures. Consumers and food companies can use AMSSA information and complaint channels; a universal vendor-licence procedure was not verified for this overview. Drought, desertification, irregular rainfall and floods affect food production and prices. Responses include irrigation and dam rehabilitation, subsidized inputs, traditional seeds, mechanization, pest control, sustainable fisheries management, better hygiene and improved cold-chain capacity. Food choices, storage and purchasing therefore need to reflect the local supply, season, water conditions and the reliability of refrigeration.