Mauritania, located in the Sahel region of Africa, is a host country for a significant number of refugees, asylum-seekers, and internally displaced persons (IDPs). The majority of refugees come from Mali, with other nationalities such as those from the Central African Republic, Burkina Faso, and Syria also present. Mauritania’s refugee population is concentrated in the Hodh Chargui region, with some refugees living in Mbera Camp, while others have settled in surrounding areas. The country has experienced large-scale internal displacement due to conflicts, particularly in the north. In addition to the ongoing humanitarian needs of displaced persons, Mauritania is increasingly affected by the impacts of climate change, including extreme weather events like cyclones and flooding, which further exacerbate displacement. 

Mauritania is party to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol and the 1969 Organization of African Unity (OAU) Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa. While Mauritania is party to the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, Mauritania is yet to accede to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons. Mauritania has also ratified the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa (Kampala Convention).