The Vatican has established diplomatic relations with Mauritania.
The Vatican announced on December 9 that an apostolic nunciature
would be established in the African country, while the Islamic Republic
of Mauritania will set up an embassy to the Holy See.
Archbishop Michael Bannach, an American prelate who has been serving
as apostolic delegate in Mauritania, is also apostolic nuncio to Cape
Verde, Guinea-Bissau, and Senegal; he resides in Senegal.
Located in northwestern Africa and dominated by the Sahara desert,
Mauritania is governed by shari’a law, and officially all of the
country’s citizens are Muslims.
There are, however, an estimated 5,000
Catholics from other countries temporarily living in the country.