Essay on:

Three Francophone Countries In Africa

Submitted by:
Zain Ul Abedin Tareen
Submitted to:
Maam Rukhsana Siddiqui
DSS 3rd

Quaid I Azam University Islamabad

Mauritania: It is located in Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Senegal and Western Sahara. The neighbors of Mauritania are: Algeria to its northwest, Mali to
its west, Western Sahara to its northeast, Morocco to its north, and to its south lies the Burkina
Faso. Its total area is about 1,030,700 sq miles and its land area about 1,030,400 sq miles which
is slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico. Mauritania is a poorly developed
country with a low GDP (gross domestic products) which totally depends on agricultures,
livestock, which have been lately demolished by droughts. It has a purchasing power partly of
$2.8 billion, a GDP real growth rate of 4% which is also low, and a GDP per capital of $1,200.
Mauritania makes $390 million a year on iron ore, fish, fish products and its partners are Japan,
Italy, Belgium, and Luxembourg. Its imports are $335 million a year and its commodities are
foodstuffs, consumers goods, petroleum products, capital goods, and its partners are Algeria,
China, US, France, Germany, Spain, and Italy. Mauritania is made up of mostly desert and
barren plains of the Sahara. There is only one rainy season from July to October, but it delivers
about 25 inches of precipitation a year. The frequency of vegetation increases from north to
south. The Sudanic Savanna, located in the Mauritania extreme south, it is covered in palm trees
and acacia trees. It is full of antelope, lions, elephants, gazelle, ostrich, warthogs, pant-hers,
hyenas, and lynx with crocodiles in lakes and streams. A current issue right now is
overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion aggravated by drought.
The people speak mostly Hansaniya Arabic (official language), Pular, Soninke, and Wolof. The
population is about 2,336,048 with 0-14 years of age to make up 48% of the population,
15-64 49%, and 64 years and over make up 3% of the population. There are 1,129,368 males
and 1,155,256 females, where as females are clearly dominate not to mention the people
that are over 64 years of age. Mauritanias birth rate per year is 46.92 births per
year. The religion is 100% Muslim but has a mixed ethnic division of Maur and blacks.
The literacy rate shows us that the people of the age of 15 and over are required to read
and write. The males tend to be forced to be literate more than females by 23.3%.

Mauritania has a developing mixed economy based largely on agriculture and mineral
exports. The gross national product (GNP) is not growing as fast as the population, and
the GNP per capital is still really low. Agriculture accounts for approximately one-third of the
gross domestic products (GDP) and employs two-thirds of the work force, largely in substance-
level farming. Millet, sorghum, rice, and other cereals are grown along the Senegal River. The
production of live stock is the county's most important agricultural activity. Cyclical drought
conditions can drastically lower output, and the construction of the Gorgol irrigation
project on the Senegal River was designed to improve this situation. Fish are also caught
in the Atlantic and are sold domestically which is also the main export. They also allow
foreign vessels to fish in their territory. One other main source is the production and export of
iron ore. It accounts for 1/8 of the country's GDP but employs less than 5% of the work force. A
petroleum refinery that was completed in 1978 has recently opened and an old copper mine at
Akjoujit has reopened. The iron ore and supplies about 50% of the GDP total exports. The
demand for the iron ore has dramatically dropped in the past 10 years however; this has produced
cut backs in production. Although the coastal lines are one of the richest areas for fish
in the world, it is among the top five since 1985. The first deepwater port opened near
the Nuoakhott River in 1986 and is now almost extinct of fish. In recent years drought
and economic mismanagement has resulted in a foreign debt.
Niger: It is located in western Africa and southeast of Algeria. The total area of Niger is about
1,267,000 square miles. Its territory is about two third deserts and mountains, and one third
savanna. Its capital city is Niamey and it has population of about 675,000. Niger has Republic
type and multiparty presidential regime. It got independence from France on 3rd August of 1960.
Niger has hot, dry, and dusty climate and rainy season mostly from June to September.
It has almost population of 11.5 million. Also has many ethnic groups like Hausa 56%,
Djerma 22%, Fula 8.5%, Taureg 8%, Beri Beri 4.3%, Arab, Toubou 1.2%.
Almost 95% are Muslims and remaining are Christians and other minorities.
Its official language is French and other languages like Hausa, Kanuri, Djerma,
Toubou, Arabic. Niger has natural resources like uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates,
gold and petroleum. Other agricultural products like millet, sorghum, rice, corn,
fruits, vegetables, cotton, peanuts, etc. it has industries of uranium mining, cement,
bricks, textiles, food processing, chemicals.

Niger is one of the poorest country in the world. Niger fell victim to a series of coups and
political instability following its independence from France in 1960. Today the country struggles
in the face of drought, insurgency and wide-spread poverty. Niger is betting on increased oil
exploration and gold mining to help modernize its economy. But basic rights issues, such as
slavery -which was only banned in 2003 and still remains a problem - and a high rate of illiteracy
and disease, remain stubborn challenges. The drought-prone country sometimes struggles to feed
its people. Its main export, uranium, is prone to price fluctuations and agriculture is threatened
by the encroaching desert. Niger is bargaining on oil exploration and gold mining to boost its
fortunes. Historically a gateway between North and sub-Saharan Africa, Niger came under
French rule in the late 1890s. After independence in 1960 its progress was stymied by political
instability and a five-year drought, which devastated livestock and crops. With little primary
education, Niger has one of the lowest literacy rates in the world. Its health system is basic and
disease is widespread. After a break of a decade, Niger again experienced an insurgency by
Tuareg rebels in the north in 2007. The Niger Movement for Justice (MNJ) complained that a
1995 peace deal that ended the previous insurgency has never been fully implemented and that
the region remains marginalised. The group demands greater autonomy and a larger share of
uranium revenue. In 2009, the MNJ and the government held talks in Libya, at which they
committed themselves to a "total and comprehensive" peace. In 1999 voters overwhelmingly
approved a new constitution providing for presidential and legislative multi-party elections.
These took place later in the year and saw Mamadou Tandja elected as president. Mr Tandja
introduced a new constitution in 2009 to extend his powers in a move described by the
opposition as a coup. He was himself overthrown in a coup at the beginning of 2010. Niger
banned the centuries-old practice of slavery in 2003. But anti-slavery organisations say
thousands of people still live in subjugation.

Algeria: It is located in northern Africa. On its northern border is the Mediterranean Sea. Most
Algerians live near the Mediterranean Sea. Other countries surrounding Algeria are Tunisia and
Libya on the east; Niger, Mali, and Mauritania on the south; and Morocco on the west. The total
area of Algeria is 919,595 square miles. In Algeria, there are three major land regions. The Tell
(Arabic for hill) is 750 miles along the Mediterranean cost. Its average temperature in summer is
77 F. and in winter, 52 F. Annual rainfall is 16" in the west area of the Tell and 27" in the east.
The High Plateaus are the second major land region and are south of the Tell Atlas Mountains.
They range from 1,300 to 4,300 feet above sea level. There are shallow salt pools called Chotts
which form on the plateaus. The average temperature is 51 F. in summer and 41 F. in winter.
The third major land region is the Algerian portion of the Sahara, which covers 90% of the
countrys total area. The Sahara desert is the largest desert in the world. Algerias largest river is
called the Chliff. It begins in the Sahara Atlas Mountains and flows 450 miles north and west to
the Mediterranean Sea. The economy of Algeria is based on two products: natural gas and
petroleum. Its industry is both government controlled and privately owned. There are farms and
small factories as well as service industries, such as hospitals, banks, and government offices.
The mining in Algeria is for iron ore, lead, mercury and zinc. Even with manufacturing of
construction materials, iron and steel, textiles, liquid natural gas, and refined petroleum products,
thousands of Algerians work in France and other countries. Although farming in Algeria includes
wheat, barley, dates, grapes, olives, potatoes, and citrus fruits, the country imports over one third
of its food. The people in Algeria consist of two different ethnic groups; namely, Arab-Berber
(99%) and European (less than 1%). While the majority of the European group is French, there
are also Spaniards, Italians, and Maltese people. The official language of the country is French,
but the Muslim population speaks mostly Arabic. Education in Algeria began when French
colonial education was imposed on the country. The French language was taught with Arabic
offered as a second language. In 1949, the French and Algerian kids were separated, and this
increased Muslim enrollments. In 1963, the education system was a mess since teachers were
trained hastily or hired abroad. The classrooms they used were mostly in empty French homes.
So the Algerian authorities began to redesign the educational system. The reason for doing this
was to help literacy and provide free education. They made primary school enrollment a
requirement and replaced French with Arabic as the language of instruction. They wanted to
encourage students in the scientific and technical areas in order to benefit the Algerian industry.
The World Bank loaned money to Algeria to help restructure the system; and by 1982, almost 4
million students were enrolled in the 9-year basis education system.

Women in Algeria are still in a subordinate role. They are expected to play the role of wife and
mother. Their rights to employment, politics, and independence are limited. Most of this is
because an organization called Al Qiyam (starting in 1964) promoted traditional Islamic values.
Even though boys are not permitted to marry until age 18, girls are permitted to marry as early as
16. Fortunately, womens rights to higher education have improved.

The President of Algeria is elected every five years and may serve again only once. He appoints
a Prime Minister, who chooses a Council of Ministers. There are two houses of government. The
National Peoples Assembly consists of 380 members and each is elected for five-year terms.
The National Council has 144 members who serve for six-year terms. Representatives of local
assemblies choose 96 of the 144 members, and the President chooses the other 48.

The earliest inhabitants of what is now Algeria were Berbers. Berbers were a tribal people of
unknown origin who raised cattle and hunted game in the area. Around 1100 B.C., Phoenicians
established coastline settlements, including Carthage, in what is now Tunisia. During the third to
second century B.C., a Berber chief became friends with Ancient Rome, and the Algerian
kingdom of Numidia was established along Algerias coast. Numidia became known as the
granary of Rome because it prospered under Roman rule, and its large estates produced olive
oil and grain. The Romans destroyed Carthage, however, in 146 B.C. and then made friends, or
fought with, various Numidian chiefs. The Vandals controlled Algeria in the 5th century A.D.,
and by the 6th century the Byzantines ruled the land. In the 7th century, the Arabs took over and
joined Algeria to the Muslim world. They converted Algerians to Islam.

Natural resources of Algeria include its chief products: wheat, barley, milk, potatoes, citrus
fruits, grapes, dates, meat, olives, and cork. There are trees in the higher Tell area that consist of
pine, cedar, and various oaks. There is sparse vegetation, and so there are few animals. The only
animals that live in Algeria are jackals, hyenas and vultures, although there are some antelope,
hares, gazelles, and reptiles. Camel caravans are the primary means of transportation in the
Hagar Mountains, and in rural parts of Algeria, pack animals haul people and goods.