2011–2012 Mauritanian protests

2011–12 Mauritanian protests
Part of the Arab Spring
Mauritanian youth protesters in Nouakchott on 25 April 2011
Date	25 February 2011 (2011-02-25) – 2012
Location	Mauritania
Goals	Political and economic changes End of slavery
Methods	Demonstrations Self-immolations Strike actions
Parties to the civil conflict
Mauritanian opposition groups February 25th Movement UNEM Don’t Touch my Nationality movement IRA Mauritanie Coordination of Democratic Opposition Rally of Democratic Forces Union of the Forces of Progress Tewassoul Party People's Progressive Alliance El Wiam Mauritanian Party of Union and Change Popular Rally of Mauritanian People Mauritanian government Gendarmerie Nationale
Lead figures
Saleh Ould Hanenna President of the Coordination of Democratic Opposition Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz President of Mauritania Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf Prime Minister of Mauritania
Casualties
Death(s)	3
Injuries	6

Mauritanian opposition groups

Mauritanian government

Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz
President of Mauritania

The 2011–12 Mauritanian protests are a series of protests in Mauritania that started in January 2011, concurrent with the Arab Spring, and continued into 2012. The largely peaceful protest movement has demanded President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz institute political, economic, and legal reforms. Common themes of protest have included slavery, which is officially illegal in Mauritania but is widespread in the country, and other human rights abuses the opposition has accused the government of perpetrating.