Mauritania, located in Northwest Africa, is a flat, desert country with a flat structure. It is divided into twelve regions, with the largest being Nouakchott. The country gained independence from French control in 1960 and has been dependent on foreign aid for over 40 years. Since 1978, the country has been military-ruled, with financial support from Iraq, Libya, and Syria. In 1991, Taya restored multiparty elections but still repressed opposition. After its last coup in 2005, Western powers stopped financing the country due to its authoritarian system. Mauritania started democratizing by following Western indications regarding the economy, political system, and society to obtain aid. The Islamic Republic of Mauritania is unstable in terms of strategic democratization, with the military posing significant power. This has led to the installation of Islamist groups, mainly from the Muslim Brotherhood and some Salafist or Wahabi groups, who resist the regime. Despite being described as “partly free” by Freedom House, Mauritania has a high level of corruption and disunity, which has hindered the Arab revolution.