1996 Mauritanian parliamentary election

{{Short description|None}}

{{EngvarB|date=May 2023}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}

{{Infobox legislative election

| country = Mauritania

| flag_year = 1959

| previous_election = 1992

| next_election = 2001

| election_date = 11 October 1996 (first round)
{{nowrap|18 October 1996 (second round)}}

| seats_for_election = All 79 seats in the National Assembly

| majority_seats = 40

| turnout = 52.06% ({{increase}}13.20pp)

| nopercentage = yes

| party1 = Democratic and Social Republican Party

| leader1 = Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya

| seats1 = 70

| last_election1 = 67

| party2 = AC

| leader2 = Messaoud Ould Boulkheir

| seats2 = 1

| last_election2 = New

| party3 = Rally for Democracy and Unity

| leader3 = Ahmed Ould Sidi Baba

| seats3 = 1

| last_election3 = 1

| party4 = Independents

| leader4 = –

| seats4 = 7

| last_election4 = 10

| title = Prime Minister

| posttitle = Prime Minister-designate

| before_election = Cheikh El Avia Ould Mohamed Khouna

| before_party = PRDS

| after_election = Cheikh El Avia Ould Mohamed Khouna

| after_party = PRDS

}}{{Politics of Mauritania}}

Parliamentary elections were held in Mauritania on 11 October 1996, with a second round in 16 of the 79 constituencies on 18 October. After the ruling Democratic and Social Republican Party (PRDS) won 60 of the 63 seats decided in the first round, the opposition Union of Democratic Forces boycotted the second round, resulting in the PRDS winning a total of 70 seats.[http://africanelections.tripod.com/mr.html Elections in Mauritania] African Elections Database Voter turnout was 52.1%,Dieter Nohlen, Michael Krennerich & Bernhard Thibaut (1999) Elections in Africa: A data handbook, p595 {{ISBN|0-19-829645-2}} and only around 30% in Nouakchott.[http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/arc/2207_96.htm Mauritania: Parliamentary Chamber: Al Jamiya-Al-Wataniya: Elections held in 1996] Inter-Parliamentary Union