Mauritania: Pro-Democracy Protests Break Out in Nouakchott · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Protests broke out in Nouakchott, Mauritania's capital today, after young people assembled themselves online to call for rallies, which demand social, political and economic reforms, and an end to Mauritania's military rule.
Up to 2,000 protesters have reportedly marched to Blockat Square, where some intend to camp, until their demands are met. Among their demands are a cap on rising costs of living and a solution to the problem of unemployment. Others spoke out against discrimination and the fall of the military rule.  This youth movement follows similar movements we have been witnessing across the Arab world since the Tunisian uprising – youth assembling themselves both in real life and virtual spaces, and protesting on the streets until their demands are met.
Mauritania's protests coincide with similar youth movements in Bahrain, Iraq, Algeria, Morocco, Jordan, Yemen and Libya.
On a Facebook page, one of the groups calling for the protests state:
Their mission reads:
Although the pages has 200 likes only, the protest seems to have materialised, as young Mauritanians march towards freedom and democracy.
Here is a snap shot from what happened today from Twitter:
@NickKristof: The democracy uprising is spreading to new parts of Africa: Cameroon, Gabon, Zimbabwe, Mauritania.
@Dima_Khatib: What a day ! Egypt, Tunisia, Mauritania, Yemen, Libya, Jordan, Bahrain, Iraq… anywhere else? Arabs demonstrating on the streets
@Malakyz: Today made history: Protests in #Libya, #Yemen, #Egypt, #Tunisia, #Bahrain, #Morocco, #Iraq, #Palestine, #Jordan, #Mauritania. SOLIDARITY
@ZEKELMOUDEN: Now thousands of youth marching in Mauritania claiming end Aziz's junta ruling the country, better live conditions and real democraty.
Akhbar tweets (Ar):
@bandolero69: The waves of protests have even spread to the impoverished state of Mauritania, where hundreds of people took to the streets of Nouakchott.
@mauritaniedem1: some protesters came to #blockatesquare on their feet, couz the government stopped the buses. #Mauritania #feb25 http://yfrog.com/h4xygxp
This is the spot protesters took over in Nouakchott, #Mauritania
@buthaina: WhoHoo!! #Now #Mauritania! Welcome aboard #Nouakchott – #Responsible #Freedom #Democracy #Fail #Corruption
@Doylech: The main square in Nouakchott in #Mauritania now has a name yes Tahrir square
@vatyma: #Mauritania: Protesters chant “Bayteen wa mkamleen layn timshou 3ana kamleen!” (we're sleeping over and from now on until the regime leaves)
@Abdarrahmen: From Blockate square #Mauritania http://twitpic.com/43o2c4
@Abdarrahmen: Saket Lash ” Why you don't talk ” From Blockate square #Mauritania http://twitpic.com/43o4r4
@AbdallahJeilany: the protesters started built their tents and try to organize everything because they scared from thuggish to disrupt the protest #Mauritania
@mauritaniedem1: the protesters Now are more then 5000 and they r increasing. :)#Mauritania
Abdullah Jellany explains (Ar):
Abdellahi2 adds (Ar):
@mauritaniedem1: some thugs were trying to beat #Aljazeera reporter Mohamed Baba Achefagha. but the protesters prevented them. #Mauritania
@AbdallahJeilany: some criminales wanted to rob a bank next Blockate but the protesters capt them and calm the situation #mauritania
@mauritaniedem1: The protesters stood up against the thuggish in #Mauritania In order to prevent them from vandalism and now the situation is fine. #’Feb17
@Abdarrahmen: One of the protesters try to burn himself at Blockat square, but finally they arresteds him #Mauritania
@: Saket Lash “Why you don't talk ” #mauritania http://twitpic.com/43p61h
@Abdarrahmen: National Tv broadcasts images of the demo this day it's just like copy-paste the experiance of egypte-libya National tvs #Mauritania
@Doylech: The Mauritanian PM has promised to improve economic situation and give pieces of land to the poor following demos #mauritania
@virtualactivism: Nouachkut: ‘the people want the fall of regime’. Holy God!!! there goes #Mauritania too. I suggest Arab League disband immediately
@mauritaniedem1: My name's Freedom bornin Tunisia, raised in Egypt, studied in Yemen and #Mauritania, fought in Libya and I'll grow up in all the Arab world.
More photographs from today can be found on the protest pages on Facebook here and here.