📅 holiday

Mauritania Independence Day

Saturday, November 28, 2026

— days to go

Colonization Begins. France begins its colonization of Mauritania, leading to nearly 70 years of foreign rule

History

Mauritania gained independence from France on November 28, 1960, ending nearly 70 years of French colonial rule. The territory was colonized by France starting in 1890, and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania was established as a French colony in 1904. The indigenous Moors, a mix of Arab and Berber peoples, and the Black African populations had varying experiences under French rule. Following World War II, Mauritanian nationalists organized under the Mauritanian Regrouping Party, advocating for independence. France granted internal autonomy in 1958, and full independence was achieved on November 28, 1960, with Moktar Ould Daddah as the first president. Mauritania's independence was complicated by territorial disputes with Morocco and Western Sahara conflicts. November 28 commemorates Mauritania's independence and its establishment as an Arab and African nation.

How It's Celebrated

Celebrate by learning more about the occasion, sharing on social media with relevant hashtags, participating in community events, or taking small personal actions that align with the day's theme.

Countries

🇲🇦 MA

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🌍 observance Jan 24

Talk Like a Grizzled Prospector

In 1848, Start of the. California Gold Rush. With the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill by James W. Marshall, the California Gold Rush begins, leading to the proliferation of grizzled prospectors

MAUS

🎉 festival Feb 10

Feast of St. Paul's Shipwreck

The Feast of St. Paul's Shipwreck, celebrated on February 10, commemorates the shipwreck of Saint Paul the Apostle on the island of Malta around AD 60, as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles (Chapter 27-28). According to the biblical account, Paul was being transported to Rome as a prisoner when his ship encountered a violent storm that lasted 14 days. The vessel ran aground and broke apart near the Maltese coast at a place now known as St. Paul's Bay. All 276 people on board survived, which tradition attributes to Paul's prophecy of divine protection. This event is of profound significance to Malta, as Paul's three-month stay on the island led to the conversion of the Maltese people, including the Roman governor Publius, marking the beginning of Christianity in Malta. Saint Paul is considered the spiritual father of the Maltese nation.

🌍 observance Jul 6

Malawi Independence

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🌍 observance Jul 26

Maldives Independence

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MAGB