The Islamic Republic of Mauritania, in northwestern Africa, lies entirely within the Sahara, with the exception of narrow strips along the Atlantic coast and the Senegal River. Remnants of Stone Age cultures have been found in northern Mauritania. Berber nomads moved into the area in the 1st millennium AD and subjugated the indigenous black population. Heavily influenced by the Almoravid dynasty, which once dominated Morocco and Andalusia, Mauritanian culture is derived from a combination of African, Arab, and Berber traditions. Politically strong nomadic tribes and Western—Portuguese, Dutch, French, and English—colonization have contributed to create modern-day Mauritania. Much of Mauritania’s history has been closely interwoven with that of Senegal and Morocco, until its independence in 1960. The country experienced one successful coup in 1984, when Lt. Col. Taya assumed control. He remains head of state today. With a pastoral-based economy, Mauritania relies heavily on foreign aid.