Female Police Officers in the Streets of Nouakchott

The streets of Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania, recently witnessed an unusual event: female police officers began managing traffic, a new sight that surprised many citizens. In the early days, curiosity drove numerous onlookers to gather and observe these officers at work. 

The female officers stated that they carry out their duties without feeling any discrimination, emphasizing that their femininity has not been compromised by their profession. 

However, the presence of female police officers in the streets sparked debates within Mauritania’s conservative society. Some believe that women’s roles in the police force should be confined to working inside police stations and not in public spaces where they face challenges such as dealing with criminals, repeat offenders, thieves, drug traffickers, and drunkards.Others expressed the opinion that it would be difficult for a husband, even if he is a police officer, to accept his wife working late into the night and in such dangerous conditions.