Mauritania, Islamic Republic of, republic, north-western Africa, bordered on the north by Western Sahara and Algeria, on the east by Mali, on the south by Mali and Senegal, and on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. A former French colony, Mauritania achieved full freedom on November 28, 1960. The nation has a total area of 1,030,700 sq km (397,955 sq mi). The capital of Mauritania is Nouakchott.