Information only. Not legal advice. Laws change and enforcement varies — consult a qualified attorney for your jurisdiction before acting.
What's Illegal inMauritania?
The rules that get visitors to Mauritania in trouble are rarely the obvious ones. Of the 21 common items and activities tracked here, 11 are outright illegal and 6 are restricted or conditional. The strictest area for Mauritania is recreational substances, and it is the area most worth your attention here.
Sahara / Sahel state. Drug penalties severe. Apostasy criminal under Sharia (death penalty on books since 2018). Same-sex relations criminal. Photography of military restricted. Slavery formally abolished but persistent in practice.
DO NOT BRING
Apostasy from Islam · Same-sex relations · Drug trafficking
What to know before you go to Mauritania
The single thing worth knowing first: Sahara / Sahel state. Drug penalties severe. Apostasy criminal under Sharia (death penalty on books since 2018). Same-sex relations criminal. Photography of military restricted. Slavery formally abolished but persistent in practice. It is the kind of rule that looks minor at home and becomes a serious problem at the border or in public, which is exactly why it tops this page.
Within recreational substances, Mauritania treats Cannabis/Weed, CBD oil, and Alcohol as off-limits. Carrying or doing any of these can mean confiscation, fines, or detention depending on the case — and a foreign prescription, habit, or "I didn't know" rarely helps once you are stopped. Each entry below links to the official source it is checked against, with the verified ones marked.
Two things travelers regularly get wrong about Mauritania: Slavery was formally abolished and criminalized but anti-slavery NGOs document persistent practice — visitors avoid the topic publicly; and Adrar plateau (Chinguetti, Ouadane) is the main tourism region but requires careful advisory check. Assumptions like these are how otherwise careful visitors end up in trouble, so it is worth checking the specifics rather than guessing.
One important caveat: Official Islamic Republic — Sharia applies in personal-status and some criminal matters. Laws and their enforcement can shift between regions and over time, so treat this page as a sourced starting point and confirm anything borderline against the official links before you rely on it.
BEFORE YOU GO TO MAURITANIA — 3 STEPS
Confirm the rule with an official Mauritania source
Laws change. Before you pack, verify anything borderline against Mauritania Customs — the official source we cite for Mauritania.
Open Mauritania Customs →Carry proof for anything restricted
If you're bringing prescription medication or a regulated device into Mauritania, carry the prescription, original packaging, and a doctor's note. For controlled medicines, check whether an import permit is required.
Have a backup if something gets held at the border
Know who to call and keep your travel insurance and embassy details handy in case an item is seized or questioned at customs in Mauritania.
General guidance, not legal advice. How we verify.
COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS
- Slavery was formally abolished and criminalized but anti-slavery NGOs document persistent practice — visitors avoid the topic publicly.
- Adrar plateau (Chinguetti, Ouadane) is the main tourism region but requires careful advisory check.
JURISDICTION NOTES
- Official Islamic Republic — Sharia applies in personal-status and some criminal matters.
- Northern desert regions and border zones with Mali / Algeria have heightened security advisories.
OFFICIAL SOURCES
IN-DEPTH GUIDES
Information only. Not legal advice. Laws change and enforcement varies — consult a qualified attorney for your jurisdiction before acting.