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*{{flag|African Union}} - In a written statement the group immediately condemned the coup: "The African Union...condemns the coup d'Etat and demands the restoration of constitutional legality."<ref>{{cite news |first=Barry |last=Malone |title=African Union condemns coup in Mauritania |url=http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnL6034240.html |publisher=Reuters |date=2008-08-06 |accessdate=2008-08-06}}</ref> *{{flag|African Union}} - In a written statement the group immediately condemned the coup: "The African Union...condemns the coup d'Etat and demands the restoration of constitutional legality."<ref>{{cite news |first=Barry |last=Malone |title=African Union condemns coup in Mauritania |url=http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnL6034240.html |publisher=Reuters |date=2008-08-06 |accessdate=2008-08-06}}</ref>
*{{EU}} - The ] said in a statement that it "is very concerned by the situation in Mauritania, which puts into question the remarkable democratic progress in this country." EU Aid and Development Commissioner ] also said that "this situation could put into question our policy of cooperation with Mauritania," and could threaten the 156 million euros of aid allocated for Mauritania for 2008-2013.<ref>{{cite news |title=EU condemns Mauritania coup, could withhold aid |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL669464420080806 |publisher=Reuters |date=2008-08-06 |accessdate=2008-08-06}}</ref> *{{EU}} - The ] said in a statement that it "is very concerned by the situation in Mauritania, which puts into question the remarkable democratic progress in this country." EU Aid and Development Commissioner ] also said that "this situation could put into question our policy of cooperation with Mauritania," and could threaten the 156 million euros of aid allocated for Mauritania for 2008-2013.<ref>{{cite news |title=EU condemns Mauritania coup, could withhold aid |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL669464420080806 |publisher=Reuters |date=2008-08-06 |accessdate=2008-08-06}}</ref>
*{{US}} - ] spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos said of the coup, "This was a democratically elected, constitutional government and we condemn the act."<ref>{{cite news |title=United States condemns coup in Mauritania |url=http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnN06427817.html |publisher=Reuters |date=2008-08-06 |accessdate=2008-08-06}}</ref>The U.S. has also called for the restoration of the overthrown president and has stated that it will "follow the lead" of the African Union.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pinr.com/report.php?ac=view_report&report_id=379&language_id=1|title=africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnN06427817.html |publisher=Reuters |date=2008-08-06 |accessdate=2008-08-06}}</ref> *{{US}} - ] spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos said of the coup, "This was a democratically elected, constitutional government and we condemn the act."<ref>{{cite news |title=United States condemns coup in Mauritania |url=http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnN06427817.html |publisher=Reuters |date=2008-08-06 |accessdate=2008-08-06}}</ref>The U.S. has also called for the restoration of the overthrown president and has stated that it will "follow the lead" of the African Union.


== See also == == See also ==

Revision as of 16:34, 6 August 2008

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The 2008 Mauritanian coup d'état took place in Mauritania on 6 August 2008 when Mauritanian President Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi was ousted from power by a group of high ranking generals that he had dismissed from office earlier that day.

Background

Location of Mauritania

General Muhammad Ould ‘Abd Al-‘Aziz had led a successful 2005 coup that ended the 21-year dictatorship of President Maaouya Sid'Ahmed Ould Taya, and had backed Abdallahi's candidacy in the subsequent 2007 elections. Abdallahi soon angered Aziz and his supporters, though, by reaching out to Islamic hard-liners who were suspected of having links to Al-Qaida, by freeing several suspected terrorists, and by using state funds to build a mosque on the grounds of the presidential palace. In May, Abdallahi also appointed 12 ministers who had been part of President Taya's former government, some of whom had been accused of corruption. This caused Mauritania's parliament to hold a no-confidence vote which led to the new government's resignation, and caused 48 MPs to walk out on the ruling party. The immediate catalyst for the coup, though, was Abdallahi's August 6 announcement that he was firing several generals, including Aziz, who had been the head of the presidential guard, and army chief of staff General Mohamed Ould Sheikh Mohamed. Mauritania has experienced more than 10 coups or attempted coups since achieving its independence from France in 1960.

Details

President Abdallahi

Early in the morning, Abdallahi announced that he was firing several senior army officers, and at 9:20 a.m. he was seized from his home by members of the Presidential Security Battalion (BASEP for Bataillon de la sécurité présidentielle) in a military coup. Presidential spokesman Abdoulaye Mamadouba said in a statement that President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi, Prime Minister Yahya Ould Ahmed Waghf, and Interior Minister Mohamed Ould R'zeizim had been arrested by renegade Senior Mauritanian army officers, unknown troops, and a group of generals, and were being held under house arrest at the presidential palace in Nouakchott. Of the apparently successful and bloodless coup d'état, Abdallahi's daughter, Amal Mint Cheikh Abdallahi said: "The security agents of the BASEP came to our home and took away my father."

The coup plotters were fired top leaders of Mauritania’s security forces, and included General Muhammad Ould ‘Abd Al-‘Aziz, General Muhammad Ould Al-Ghazwani, General Philippe Swikri, and Brigadier General (Aqid) Ahmad Ould Bakri. State television reported that the country was now being led by a new Military State Council, which would be run by Aziz. The state council said that Abdallahi was now the "former president."

International reaction

  •  African Union - In a written statement the group immediately condemned the coup: "The African Union...condemns the coup d'Etat and demands the restoration of constitutional legality."
  •  European Union - The European Commission said in a statement that it "is very concerned by the situation in Mauritania, which puts into question the remarkable democratic progress in this country." EU Aid and Development Commissioner Louis Michel also said that "this situation could put into question our policy of cooperation with Mauritania," and could threaten the 156 million euros of aid allocated for Mauritania for 2008-2013.
  •  United States - US State Department spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos said of the coup, "This was a democratically elected, constitutional government and we condemn the act."The U.S. has also called for the restoration of the overthrown president and has stated that it will "follow the lead" of the African Union.

See also

References

  1. "Coup leaders form new state council in Mauritania". France 24. 2008-08-06. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  2. ^ Mohamed, Ahmed (2008-08-06). "Mauritania army stages coup; junta takes charge". The Associated Press. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  3. ^ "President detained in Mauritania coup". AFP. 2008-08-06. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  4. "Coup d'Etat militaire en Mauritanie". Le Monde. 2008-08-06. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  5. "Coup in Mauritania as president, PM arrested". Associated Press. 2008-08-06. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  6. "Troops stage coup in Mauritania". BBC News. 2008-08-06. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  7. "Coup under way in Mauritania: president's office". Associated Press. 2008-08-06. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  8. McElroy, Damien (2008-08-06). "Mauritania president under house arrest as army stages coup". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  9. "Generals Seize Power in Mauritanian Coup". The Media Line. 2008-08-06. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  10. Mohamed, Ahmed (2008-08-06). "Mauritania army stages coup; junta takes charge". Yahoo! News. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  11. Fertey, Vincent (2008-08-06). "Mauritania forces stage coup after officers sacked". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-08-06. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  12. Malone, Barry (2008-08-06). "African Union condemns coup in Mauritania". Reuters. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  13. "EU condemns Mauritania coup, could withhold aid". Reuters. 2008-08-06. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  14. "United States condemns coup in Mauritania". Reuters. 2008-08-06. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
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