At that time, France requested immigrants from West Africa (Mauritania, Senegal, Mali, Guinea).
A lot of male workers came to France, followed by their wives and children.
A few thousands of Mauritanians came in France to work in the automotive industry.
[1] Most of the Mauritanians are Soninké people from the Senegal River Valley, at the extreme south of Mauritania.
There is also a significant number of Mauritanians who are born in France.