Mauritania Independence Day

This is the national day of the country and commemorates independence from France in 1960. It came under French control in the late 19th century as France expanded its influence in the area during the so-called ‘scramble for Africa’. It established Mauritania as a colonial territory in 1904, though it wasn’t until 1912 that local resistance was fully quelled. It was part of French West Africa from 1920, initially as a protectorate and then a colony. It became increasingly autonomous after the end of World War Two and became self-governing in 1958 and in 1960 gained full independence.