2005 Mauritanian coup d'état

Overthrow of Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya June 2024 2005 Mauritanian coup d'état Mauritania-CIA WFB Map.png A CIA WFB map of Mauritania 3 August 2005 Nouakchott, Mauritania Military coup Regime change Presidential Palace, Nouakchott Ely Ould Mohamed Vall Faction within the Armed Forces Coup succeeds Overthrow of the government of President Taya. The establishment of military rule under the CMJD headed by Colonel Vall. Taya goes into exile. Election of Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi as President in 2007. A military coup took place in Mauritania on 3 August 2005. President Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya was ousted by the Armed Forces of Mauritania and replaced by the Military Council for Justice and Democracy (CMJD), headed by Ely Ould Mohamed Vall, while Taya was in Saudi Arabia attending the funeral of King Fahd of Saudi Arabia.2005-08-03 Coup ousts West-leaning leader of Mauritania https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna8810648 2024-06-24 NBC News en A constitutional referendum, parliamentary and presidential elections were scheduled and the coup leaders vowed not to contest any of the elections. The military government ended with the presidential election on 11 March 2007 as promised. Background Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya had reigned over Mauritania since he had taken power from Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla in a bloodless coup d'état in December 1984. Mauritania had also seen coup attempts in June 2003 and August 2004.Par Le 2003-06-25 La tentative de putsch a été meurtrière https://www.leparisien.fr/politique/la-tentative-de-putsch-a-ete-meurtriere-26-06-2003-2004200781.php 2024-06-24 leparisien.fr fr-FR The 2003 attempt had been led by Saleh Ould Hanenna, and the August 2004 attempt was allegedly led by army officers hailing from Hanenna's ethnic group.11 August 2004 'Army coup foiled' in Mauritania https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3553906.stm BBC News Motives for the coup included Taya's alignment with America and being one of only three countries in the Arab world to start formal diplomatic ties with Israel. The coup was also motivated by opposition to Taya's suppression of some opposition parties and his occasional military purges.http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/africa/08/03/mauritania/index.html?iref=newssearch Soldiers in Mauritania stage coup cnn.com CNN https://web.archive.org/web/20050805004504/http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/africa/08/03/mauritania/index.html 5 August 2005 dead 22 October 2016 Coup details While Taya was attending the funeral of King Fahd of Saudi Arabia on 3 August 2005, members of the Presidential Guard (BASEP) surrounded the Presidential palace and other important ministries. Shots were heard throughout the capital, clearing the streets of Nouakchott. The coup leaders also took control of state-run radio and TV stations.Un nouveau coup d'Etat militaire http://www1.rfi.fr/actufr/articles/068/article_37855.asp www1.rfi.fr Radio France Internationale 22 October 2016 fr In an official message on Mauritanian television, the coup leaders declared, "The armed forces and security forces have unanimously decided to put a definitive end to the totalitarian acts in the past few years of the defunct regime under which our people have suffered greatly in the last few years." International reaction Domestically, the coup had support from the population, with some in the capital honking their car horns in support. The African Union expressed concern and condemned all seizures of power.Mauritania officers 'seize power' https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4741243.stm bbc.com 4 August 2005 BBC 22 October 2016 The Secretary-General of the UN, Kofi Annan, "was deeply troubled", stating that he wanted the dispute to be resolved peacefully. The then President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, denounced the coup, stating "the days of tolerating military governance in our sub-region or anywhere [are] long gone". Analysis and aftermath The coup ended Ould Taya's repressive regime, which was characterized by a make-believe democracy heavily reliant on tribal affiliations and a powerful security apparatus. It was primarily driven by the military's withdrawal of support for Taya due to his increasingly erratic and unpopular policies, especially his use of the "terrorist card" to gain Western support, which alienated significant segments of the population.N’Diaye Boubacar 2006-07-01 Mauritania, August 2005: Justice and democracy, or just another coup? http://academic.oup.com/afraf/article/105/420/421/77000/Mauritania-August-2005-Justice-and-democracy-or African Affairs en 105 420 421–441 10.1093/afraf/adi126 1468-2621 subscription Taya was on the plane back to Mauritania when the coup happened, forcing him to land in Niger. He eventually made his way to Qatar,Bibbo Barbara Taya lands in Qatar with family http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/qatar/taya-lands-in-qatar-with-family-1.298328 GulfNews 22 October 2016 23 August 2005 and now works as a teacher at a Qatar military academy.Ex-Mauritanian president to teach at Qatar military school 30 September 2013 http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/africa/2013/09/30/Ex-Mauritania-president-to-teach-at-Qatar-military-school-.html Al-arabiya 22 October 2016 After the coup, the African Union demanded a return to "constitutional order" in Mauritania, and suspended Mauritania's membership in the African Union.The Military Coup in Mauritania: Domestic and International Implications http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/the-military-coup-in-mauritania-domestic-and-international-implications The Washington Institute 22 October 2016 The Mauritanian military government ended after a fair presidential election was held in 2007, in which Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi was elected. Mauritania's membership in the African Union was returned following the 2007 elections.All is rather easily forgiven https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2009/07/23/all-is-rather-easily-forgiven The Economist 22 October 2016 However, after it was found out that Abdallahi had opened channels of communications with Islamic hardliners thought to be associated with Al-Qaeda, and had used public funds to build a mosque in the palace, he was overthrown by a coup in 2008 led by members of the 2005 coup,Mohammed Ahmed Mauritania army stages coup; junta takes charge http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hmqqO8XJixmimcunkNvDYctnppTgD92CQJ180 ap.google.com AP https://web.archive.org/web/20080812110822/http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hmqqO8XJixmimcunkNvDYctnppTgD92CQJ180 12 August 2008 resulting in Mauritania being once again suspended from the African Union (AU). References Mauritania 30em Category:Coups d'état in Mauritania Category:2000s coups d'état Coup Category:2005 conflicts Category:August 2005 in Africa