This document is a mutual evaluation report on anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing measures in Mauritania. It finds that Mauritania has a low level of effectiveness in 11 immediate outcomes related to combating money laundering and terrorist financing. It also rates Mauritania as non-compliant or partially compliant on most technical compliance requirements, with low levels of implementation and enforcement of its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing system.

1. Anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing measures in Mauritania – Mutual Evaluation Report - 2018 1
Anti-money laundering and counter-
terrorist financing (AML/CFT)
measures in Mauritania
Fourth Round Mutual Evaluation
Ratings
November 2018
http://www.fatf-gafi.org/publications/mutualevaluations/documents/mer-mauritania-2018.html

2. Anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing measures in Mauritania – Mutual Evaluation Report - 2018
Ratings – Effectiveness (1/3)
2
Immediate outcome of an effective system to combat money
laundering (ML) and terrorist financing (TF)
Extent to
which
Mauritania
has achieved
this objective
1. ML and TF risks are understood and, where appropriate,
actions co-ordinated domestically to combat ML and TF
Low
2. International co-operation delivers appropriate information,
financial intelligence, and evidence, and facilitates action
against criminals and their assets
Low
3. Supervisors appropriately supervise, monitor and regulate
financial institutions and designated non-financial
businesses and professions (DNFBPs) for compliance with
AML/CFT requirements commensurate with their risks.
Low
4. Financial institutions and DNFBPs adequately apply AML/CFT
preventive measures commensurate with their risks, and
report suspicious transactions.
Low

3. Anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing measures in Mauritania – Mutual Evaluation Report - 2018 3
Immediate outcome of an effective system to combat money
laundering (ML) and terrorist financing (TF)
Extent to
which
Mauritania
has achieved
this objective
5. Legal persons and arrangements are prevented from misuse
for money laundering or terrorist financing, and information
on their beneficial ownership is available to competent
authorities without impediments
Low
6. Financial intelligence and all other relevant information are
appropriately used by competent authorities for money
laundering and terrorist financing investigations.
Low
7. Money laundering offences and activities are investigated
and offenders are prosecuted and subject to effective,
proportionate and dissuasive sanctions
Low
8. Proceeds and instrumentalities of crime are confiscated. Low
Ratings – Effectiveness (2/3)

4. Anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing measures in Mauritania – Mutual Evaluation Report - 2018 4
Immediate outcome of an effective system to combat money
laundering (ML) and terrorist financing (TF)
Extent to
which
Mauritania
has achieved
this objective
9. Terrorist financing offences and activities are investigated
and persons who finance terrorism are prosecuted and
subject to effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions.
Low
10. Terrorists, terrorist organisations and terrorist financiers are
prevented from raising, moving and using funds, and from
abusing the non-profit sector.
Low
11. Persons and entities involved in the proliferation of weapons
of mass destruction are prevented from raising, moving and
using funds, consistent with the relevant United Nations
Security Council Resolutions.
Low
Ratings – Effectiveness (3/3)

5. Anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing measures in Mauritania – Mutual Evaluation Report - 2018 5
Ratings – Effectiveness
000
11
High
Substantial
Moderate
Low

6. 19-Mar-19
6
Ratings – technical compliance
(1/5)
AML/CFT POLICIES AND COORDINATION
1. Assessing risks & applying a risk-based approach Non NonNo No Non Compliant
2. National cooperation and coordination Non NonNo No Non Compliant
MONEY LAUNDERING AND CONFISCATION
3. Money laundering offence LargLarLarLar Largely Compliant
4. Confiscation and provisional measures Part ParPa Pa Partially Compliant
TERRORIST FINANCING AND FINANCING OF PROLIFERATION
5. Terrorist financing offence Part ParPa Pa Partially Compliant
6. Targeted financial sanctions related to terrorism & terrorist
financing Part ParPa Pa Partially Compliant
7. Targeted financial sanctions related to proliferation Non NonNo No Non Compliant
8. Non-profit organisations Non NonNo No Non Compliant

7. 19-Mar-19
7
Ratings – technical compliance
(2/5)
PREVENTIVE MEASURES
9. Financial institution secrecy laws LargLarLarLar Largely Compliant
Customer due diligence and record keeping
10. Customer due diligence Non No No No Non Compliant
11. Record keeping Part Pa Pa Pa Partially Compliant
Additional measures for specific customers and activities
12. Politically exposed persons Part Pa Pa Pa Partially Compliant
13. Correspondent banking Part Pa Pa Pa Partially Compliant
14. Money or value transfer services Part Pa Pa Pa Partially Compliant
15. New technologies Non NonNo No Non Compliant
16. Wire transfers Part ParPa Pa Partially Compliant

8. 19-Mar-19
8
Ratings – technical compliance
(3/5)
PREVENTIVE MEASURES (continued)
Reliance, Controls and Financial Groups
17. Reliance on third parties Non No No No Non Compliant
18. Internal controls and foreign branches and subsidiaries Non No No No Non Compliant
19. Higher-risk countries Non No No No Non Compliant
Reporting of suspicious transactions
20. Reporting of suspicious transactions Part Pa Pa Pa Partially Compliant
21. Tipping-off and confidentiality Part Pa Pa Pa Partially Compliant
Designated non-financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs)
22. DNFBPs: Customer due diligence Part ParPa Pa Partially Compliant
23. DNFBPs: Other measures Part ParPa Pa Partially Compliant

9. 19-Mar-19
9
Ratings – technical compliance
(4/5)
TRANSPARENCY AND BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF LEGAL
PERSONS AND ARRANGEMENTS
24. Transparency and beneficial ownership of legal persons Non No NonNon Non Compliant
25. Transparency and beneficial ownership of legal arrangements
Non No NonNon Non Compliant
POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF COMPETENT AUTHORITIES
AND OTHER INSTITUTIONAL MEASURES
Regulation and Supervision
26. Regulation and supervision of financial institutions Part Pa ParPar Partially Compliant
27. Powers of supervisors Part Pa ParPar Partially Compliant
28. Regulation and supervision of DNFBPs Non No NonNon Non Compliant
Operational and Law Enforcement
29. Financial intelligence units LargLarLarLar Largely Compliant
30. Responsibilities of law enforcement and investigative
authorities Part Pa ParPar Partially Compliant
31. Powers of law enforcement and investigative authorities Part Pa ParPar Partially Compliant
32. Cash couriers Part Pa ParPar Partially Compliant

10. 19-Mar-19
10
Ratings – technical compliance
(5/5)
POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF COMPETENT AUTHORITIES
AND OTHER INSTITUTIONAL MEASURES (continued)
General Requirements
33. Statistics Part Pa Pa Pa Partially Compliant
34. Guidance and feedback Part Pa Pa Pa Partially Compliant
Sanctions
35. Sanctions Part Pa Pa Pa Partially Compliant
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
36. International instruments LargLarLarLar Largely Compliant
37. Mutual legal assistance LargLarLarLar Largely Compliant
38. Mutual legal assistance: freezing and confiscation Non NonNo No Non Compliant
39. Extradition Part ParPa Pa Partially Compliant
40. Other forms of international cooperation Part ParPa Pa Partially Compliant

11. Anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing measures in Mauritania – Mutual Evaluation Report - 2018 11
Ratings – technical compliance