Nouadhibou

Description

Nouadhibou (; Arabic: نواذيبو, Hassaniyya: [nwaðiːbu] ), formerly named Port-Étienne, is the second largest city in Mauritania and serves as a major commercial center. The city has about 173,000 inhabitants. It is situated on a 65-kilometre peninsula or headland called Ras Nouadhibou, Cap Blanc, or Cabo Blanco, of which the western side has the city of La Güera. Nouadhibou is consequently located merely a couple of kilometers from the border between Mauritania and Western Sahara. Its current mayor is Elghassem Ould Bellali, who was installed on 15 October 2018.

Nouadhibou is a major hotspot for migrant smuggling, serving as a key departure point for those attempting to reach Europe.