The Vatican and Mauritania have established diplomatic relations.

The Vatican announced on December 9, 2016 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.