2003 Mauritanian coup attempt

Attempted military overthrow of President Taya June 2024 2003 Mauritanian coup d'état attempt Mauritania-CIA WFB Map.png A CIA WFB map of Mauritania 8–9 June 2003 Nouakchott, Mauritania Military coup Regime change Presidential Palace, Nouakchott Saleh Ould Hanenna Faction within the Armed Forces Coup fails Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya remains in power. Re-election of Taya as President in November. The 2003 Mauritanian coup d'état attempt was a violent military coup attempt in Mauritania which took place on 8–9 June 2003."Mauritania 'foils' coup attempt", BBC News, June 9, 2003. The coup attempt, led by Major Saleh Ould Hanenna who commanded a rebel section of the Army, resulted in two days of heavy fighting in the capital Nouakchott, before rebel soldiers were defeated by troops loyal to the President, Colonel Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya."Ould Taya survives coup attempt", IRIN, June 9, 2003. Taya subsequently won the 7 November 2003 presidential election with over 67% of the popular vote,Elections in Mauritania https://web.archive.org/web/20260302115857/https://africanelections.tripod.com/mr.html 2 March 2026 , African Elections Database. amid opposition claims of electoral fraud; the second-place candidate and former head of state (CMSN chairman), Colonel Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla, was arrested both immediately before and after the election, and was accused of plotting a coup."Top Mauritanian politician held", BBC News, November 9, 2003. Hanenna initially escaped capture, and announced the formation of a rebel group called the 'Knights of Change', but was eventually captured in late 2004,"Government arrests mastermind behind coup plots", IRIN, October 12, 2004. and sentenced to life imprisonment (instead of recommended death sentence)Agence France-Presse 2003-09-08 Mauritania Coup Trial https://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/08/world/mauritania-coup-trial.html 2024-06-24 The New York Times en-US 0362-4331 along with other alleged plotters in early 2005."Coup plotters get life in prison but escape death sentence", IRIN, February 3, 2005. Following the 2005 coup d'état, which deposed Taya, Hannena was released in an amnesty declared by the new military junta, the Military Council for Justice and Democracy (CMJD)."MAURITANIA: Junta declares general amnesty for political prisoners", IRIN, September 5, 2005. References Mauritania Mauritanian coup d'état attempt Coup attempt Mauritanian coup d'état attempt Mauritanian coup d'état attempt Category:Attempted coups d'état in Mauritania