Timeline of Nouakchott

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Nouakchott, Mauritania.

20th century

1903 - French military outpost built.
1908 - Military outpost abandoned.
1929 - French military outpost reactivated.
1952 - Rosso-Nouakchott highway constructed.
1958:
* Nouakchott site designated new capital of Mauritania; building of city begins.
* Radio de Mauritanie begins broadcasting.
1960:
* Capital of newly independent Mauritania moved to Nouakchott from Saint Louis.
* AS Garde Nationale formed.
* Palais de Justice built.
1961:
* National Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies built.
* Population: 5,807.
1965 - Population: 15,000.
1966 - National School of Administration built.
1968 - Racial unrest.
1970:
* founded.
* Population: 25,000.
1973 - ASC Police formed.
1974:
* Refugees from drought settle in Ksar Gadid.
* 5th and 6th arrondissements created.
1975:
* 25 miles of city streets were paved. Streetlights were installed and bus service started.
* Convention center constructed near city.
* Population: 104,054.
1976:
* June: City besieged by guerrilla Polisario Front forces.
* football club formed.
1977:
* July: City besieged by guerrilla Polisario Front forces again.
* Population: 134,704.
1978:
* Coup d'état. Overthrow of long-time President Moktar Ould Daddah.
* ACS Ksar formed.
1979 - ASAC Concorde formed.
1980 - ASC Nasr Zem Zem formed.
1981:
* Coup attempted and suppressed.
* University of Nouakchott established.
* National Archives, and National Library built.
* Population: at least 232,000.
1983 - Stade Olympique opens.
1984 - Coup d'état. Overthrow of President Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla.
1986 - Friendship Port of Nouakchott opens.
1987 - Racial unrest.
1988 - Population: 393,325.
1989 - Curfew imposed in city after regional ethnic unrest.
1991 - 1 June: Windstorm.
1994 - Le Calame newspaper begins publication.
1995:
* "Bread riot" occurs.
* Al-Akhbar and Nouakchott Info newspapers begin publication.
1996 - Coup attempted and suppressed.
1999 - in business.
2000 - Population: 558,195.

21st century

2003 - June: Coup attempted and completely suppressed after two days of heavy fighting.
2004 - Plague of locusts.
2005:
* June: Anti-government protest.
* 3 August: 2005 Mauritanian coup d'état. Overthrow of long-time President Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya.
2008 - Population: 846,871.
2011:
* January: 2011–12 Mauritanian protests begin.
* 2 February: "Al Qaeda suspects killed in a car blast."
* established.
2012 - 12 July: Airplane crash occurs at Nouakchott International Airport.
2013 - Population: 958,399.
2014:
* March: Protest over Holy Koran desecration.
* Maty Mint Hamady becomes mayor of the city.
* Administrative regions Nouakchott-Nord, Nouakchott-Ouest, and Nouakchott-Sud created.
2016:
* Nouakchott–Oumtounsy International Airport opens, Nouakchott International Airport closes.
* June: 2016 Arab League summit held in Nouakchott.