The ruling party, UPR, exerts hegemonic control over all elected assemblies. However, in practice, since 1978, the nation has been governed by army officers. The nation holds elections to elect the president, the National Assembly, the Regional Councils and municipal councils at common intervals. Dia argues that Western authorities usually overlook the worth of conventional data; this is applicable equally to the dexterity with which Mauritanian activists are navigating political change in their society.