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Armée Nationale Mauritanienne /
Mauritania Army

The Army was 15,000 strong in 2017, according to the IISS, with six military regions, two camel corps battalions, one battalion of T-54/55 battle tanks, one armoured reconnaissance squadron, eight garrison infantry battalions, seven motorised infantry battalions, one commando/para battalion, 3 artillery battalions, 4 air defence batteries, one engineer company, and one guard battalion. In March 1985, the Defense Intelligence Agency reported the army was 8,300 strong with no reserves (Military Intelligence Summary - Africa South of the Sahara, DDB 2680-104-85, ICOD 15 October 1984, Mauritania pages 4, 5, declassified by letter dated April 29, 2014).

1 x Armoured Battalion 2 x Special Intervention bns 7 x motorized infantry bn 8 x garrison infantry bn 2 x Para-commando battalions 2 x Camel Corps battalions 3 x artillery battalions 4 x ADA batteries 1 x Engineer Company 1 x Reconnaissance squadron

Military Regions are autonomous military command territorial within Mauritania in which specific units are located and whose mission was to carry out tasks entrusted to the National Army. They participate in the operations of law enforcement and the fight against trafficking in all its forms and illegal immigration. Reported regions as of 1985 were Region I - Nouadbihou, Region II - Zouirat, Region III - Atar, Region IV - formerly at Tidjikdja, which no longer existed, Region V - Nema, Region VI - Nouakchott, and Region VII - Rosso. By 2015 the 1ère région militaire was at Nouadhibou, 2nd Military Region at Zouerate, 3rd Military Region at Atar, 4ème région militaire at Tidjikdja, 5th Military Region headquarters at Néma, 6th Military Region in the area of the capital, and the 7th Military Region at Aleg.

The Special Intervention Groups (GSI - Groupement Spéciaux d'Intervention) and the Special Intervention Battalion (BSI Bataillon Spécial d'Intervention), recently created responding to the security threats, these formations have a great mobility and high fire power. They are in charge of fighting against all the new threats such as terrorism, drug trafficking, illegal immigration and organized crime. In these specific tasks are added work of general interest such as the identification of routes and paths in difficult areas, water points, and the care of people in the areas visited.

The Armoured Battalion was a strike force with a large fire power allowing it to inflict great losses on the enemy and have access to strategic points under offensive maneuver. It offers great protection units on the ground. The Artillery Directorate participates in maneuver behind the enemy lines. They destroy enemy objectives that are set due to its high fire power. They provide ongoing operational information through its detachments observation and handle of the air defense artillery through its ground to Air missiles.

The 1st Parachute Commando Battalion was a special force in charge of several missions can be summarized in the quick and timely where it was necessary or requested. It constitutes an intervention element in favor of units engaged in the field. It can go behind enemy lines. The 2nd Commando Battalion was a special force reserve ready to intervene without notice to fulfill specific missions across the country. The Bataillon de Sécurité Présidentielle was in charge of security of the president.

The Directorate of Military Engineering mission was to facilitate the mobility of forces on the routes and to prohibit the deployment of enemy penetrations pathways. It also contributes to economic development of the country and ensures the management of the military.

The weapon of the Military Engineering was an important part of the National Army. Its key fonction was to assist the combat unities during the attacks, centralisation and withdraw. In addition to that, it strengtens the military fortifications and locations.

Alongside with the military tasks, the military Engineering was in charge of other humanitarian and developement missions. With the civil departements, it interferes in the natural disasters such as floodings. It was also engaged in anti- locusts campagns, drilling, anti-desertification, recalmation of agricultural and residential areas.

In harmony with its developement mission, the Military Engineering has the due attention from the National Army Staff. It was provided by all the necessary means and equipements to fulfill its missions both the military and developement ones. Many acheivements were underscored in terms of the infrastracture and various facilities. Other than that, the movable workshops as well as the creation of the drinking tubes factory which was underway in the city of Kiffa, all are examples of the acheivements that were made true. The above mentioned factory will supply the entire country with the drinking tubes for which the country spent huge budgets to acquire.