Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya

Mu'awiya Ould Sidi Ahmed al-Taya was born on 28 November 1941 in Atar, then part of French Mauritania. Al-Taya attended a Franco-Arabic Primary School from 1949 to 1955. He then attended Rosso High School in southern Mauritania. After graduation, he attended a French military school in 1960 and graduated as an officer the next year. In 1975, he received strategic training at the French war academy.

In 1978, the Mauritanian Army overthrew Moktar Ould Daddah, the first President of Mauritania, in an attempt to forestall government collapse in the war over Western Sahara against the Polisario Front. Al-Taya was among the conspirators, and quickly gained influence within the government.

After holding various positions in the military, al-Taya was appointed Chief of Staff of the Army in July 1980, during the rule of military head of state Mohamed Haidalla.

In the aftermath of a failed coup against Haidalla in March 1981, al-Taya was appointed Prime minister on 25 April 1981,{{Cite news |date=1981-04-27 |title=AROUND THE WORLD; Career Soldier Takes Over As Premier of Mauritania (Published 1981) |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/04/27/world/around-the-world-career-soldier-takes-over-as-premier-of-mauritania.html |access-date=2024-01-31 |language=en}} replacing civilian Prime minister Sid'Ahmed Ould Bneijara. He held this office until 8 March 1984, when Haidalla, who was still head of state, took over the post.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZayN7bAjHQsC&q=Mu'awiya+Taya |title=Middle East International |date=1984 |publisher=Middle East International Publishers, Limited |language=en}}

On 12 December 1984, while Haidalla was out of the country, al-Taya seized power and declared himself Chairman of the Military Committee for National Salvation (CMSN).{{Cite news |date=1984-12-13 |title=MAURITANIA COUP OUSTS PRESIDENT (Published 1984) |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/12/13/world/mauritania-coup-ousts-president.html |access-date=2024-01-31 |language=en}}

In October 1987, al-Taya's military government allegedly uncovered a tentative coup d'état by a group of black army officers, backed, according to the authorities, by Senegal. Several officers were arrested, interrogated, and possibly tortured, leading to the acquittal of only seven.{{Cite news |date=1987-11-21 |title=MAURITANIE Procès de cinquante et un responsables toucouleurs |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/1987/11/21/mauritanie-proces-de-cinquante-et-un-responsables-toucouleurs_4077654_1819218.html |access-date=2024-02-02 |work=Le Monde.fr |language=fr}}

File:ISS002-E-5456 2.JPG

The discord between conflicting visions of Mauritanian society as either black or Arab again rose to the surface during the intercommunal violence that broke out in April 1989. This tension grew when the Mauritania–Senegal border dispute escalated into violence between the two nations.{{Cite journal |date=1 April 1994 |title=Mauritania's Campaign of Terror |url=https://www.hrw.org/report/1994/04/01/mauritanias-campaign-terror/state-sponsored-repression-black-africans |journal=Human Rights Watch |language=en}}

Even before the war, al-Taya and Abdou Diouf, president of Senegal at the time, had been engaged in a dispute after the completion of dams on the Senegal River. Al-Taya argued that Senegalese representatives in the OMVS had refused to create river harbors during construction, diminishing Mauritania's ability to exploit phosphate deposits.{{Cite web |title=Conflict in the Senegal River Valley |url=https://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/cultural-survival-quarterly/conflict-senegal-river-valley |access-date=24 July 2023 |website=www.culturalsurvival.org |date=26 March 2010 |language=en}}

Heightened ethnic tensions created an additional catalyst for the Mauritania–Senegal border conflict, which started as a result of a conflict in Diawara between Moorish Mauritanian herders and Senegalese farmers over grazing rights. The border between Senegal and Mauritania was then closed, and the two nations ended diplomatic ties with each other.

As the war continued, some Fula and Soninke people were arrested and executed.{{Cite web |last=State |first=US Department of |date=1 February 1992 |title=Country Report on Human Rights Practices for 1991 |url=https://www.ecoi.net/en/document/1078893.html |access-date=24 July 2023 |language=en}} Al-Taya's government initiated a military investigation before implementing a law of amnesty.{{Cite web |last=Refugees |first=United Nations High Commissioner for |title=Refworld {{!}} U.S. Department of State Country Report on Human Rights Practices 1993 - Mauritania |url=https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6aa4d8.html |access-date=24 July 2023 |website=Refworld |language=en}}

In July 1991, presidents Diouf and al-Taya reached an agreement to end hostilities. On 18 July, Senegal and Mauritania signed a Peace treaty, ending the Mauritania–Senegal border conflict, and on 2 May 1992, the borders reopened to all civilians.

the late 1980s, al-Taya had established close co-operation with Iraq,{{Cite book |last=League |first=Muslim World |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CUAwAAAAYAAJ&q=Mu'awiya+Taya |title=The Muslim World League Journal |date=2002 |publisher=Press and Publications Department, Muslim World League |language=en}} and pursued a strongly Arab nationalist line. Mauritania grew increasingly isolated internationally, and tensions with Western countries grew dramatically after it took a pro-Iraqi position during the Gulf War, although he had received French support and aid in 1984-1987.{{Cite web |title=About this Collection {{!}} Country Studies {{!}} Digital Collections {{!}} Library of Congress |url=https://www.loc.gov/collections/country-studies/about-this-collection/ |access-date=24 July 2023 |website=Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA}}

Al-Taya's regime began a transition to civilian, multiparty government in 1991; a new Constitution was approved by referendum in July.

The first multiparty presidential elections were held in January 1992. Al-Taya, as candidate of the newly formed Democratic and Social Republican Party (PRDS), received nearly 63% of the vote,[http://africanelections.tripod.com/mr.html Elections in Mauritania], African Elections Database. amid opposition claims of serious irregularities and fraud. He won slightly more than 90% of the vote in the following 12 December 1997 presidential election, which was boycotted by major opposition political parties;[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/39080.stm "Mauritanian president wins poll"], BBC.co.uk, 13 December 1997. anticipating fraud, they said that this would make their participation "futile".Themon Djaksam, [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0JQP/is_295/ai_30126497 "Country profile: Mauritania"]{{dead link|date=May 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, New Internationalist, October 1997.

The last years of al-Taya's rule were marred by unrest within the military and hostility between the regime and the country's Islamists. Al-Taya moved away from his initial support of the Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein at the time of the Gulf War, and moved towards the West.Ahmed Mohamed, [http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20050810-1401-mauritania-freedislamists.html "Freed Islamic leaders in Mauritania say ousted leader's policies fomented extremism"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312105349/http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20050810-1401-mauritania-freedislamists.html |date=12 March 2007 }}, Associated Press, 10 August 2005.

On 28 October 1999, Mauritania joined Egypt, Palestine, and Jordan as the fourth member of the Arab League to officially recognize Israel. By doing so, al-Taya formally ended a declared war on Israel that dated from the Six-Day War of June 1967.

During his administration, al-Taya also began co-operating with the United States in anti-terrorism activities, a policy that was criticized by some human rights organizations.{{Cite web |date=7 April 2008 |title=CNN.com - Crackdown courts U.S. approval - Nov. 24, 2003 |url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/11/23/backlash.forusally.ap/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080407090221/http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/11/23/backlash.forusally.ap/ |archive-date=7 April 2008 |access-date=24 July 2023 |website=CNN}} Increasing ties with Israel and the United States served to deepen the opposition to his rule.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4743707.stm "Q&A: Mauritania's power struggles"], BBC News, 3 August 2005.

In June 2003, al-Taya's government survived a coup attempt, defeating rebel soldiers after two days of heavy fighting in the capital, Nouakchott;{{Sfn|Bekaye|2003}}[http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=44220 "Ould Taya survives coup attempt"], IRIN, 9 June 2003. the coup leader, Saleh Ould Hanenna, initially escaped capture. Ould Hanenna announced the formation of a rebel group called "the Knights of Change" but was eventually captured in October 2004 and sentenced to life in prison along with other alleged plotters in early 2005.[http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=51680 "Government arrests mastermind behind coup plots"], IRIN, 12 October 2004.[http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=52899 "Coup plotters get life in prison but escape death sentence"], IRIN, 3 February 2005. On 7 November 2003 a presidential election was held, which was won by al-Taya with over 67% of the popular vote. The opposition again denounced the result as fraudulent; the second-place candidate, former ruler Ould Haidalla, was arrested both immediately before and after the election, and was accused of plotting a coup.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3254431.stm "Top Mauritanian politician held"], BBC News, 9 November 2003. In August 2004, the government arrested more alleged coup plotters, who it said had planned to overthrow al-Taya when he took a planned trip to France; some, however, doubted the existence of this plot and suspected that it was a pretext for a crackdown.[http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=50989 "Defence minister confirms coup plot, arrests"], IRIN, 11 August 2004. In late September, the government claimed to have thwarted yet another plot to oust al-Taya.[http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=51538 "Government says foils third coup plot in 15 months"], IRIN, 29 September 2004.

Anticipating an increase in government revenue through the exploitation of natural resources, particularly offshore oil deposits, al-Taya announced an increase in pay for the civil service and pensions in November 2004.[http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=52265 "President raises wages ahead of oil boom"], IRIN, 30 November 2004.

{{Main|2005 Mauritanian coup d'état}}

While al-Taya was out of the country for the funeral of King Fahd of Saudi Arabia in early August 2005, soldiers seized government buildings and the state media. The group, which identified itself as the Military Council for Justice and Democracy (CMJD), announced a coup d'état in a statement run by the state news agency on 3 August: "The armed forces and security forces have unanimously decided to put an end to the totalitarian practices of the deposed regime under which our people have suffered much over the last several years."

The new military dictatorship said it would remain in power for a maximum of two years to allow time for democratic institutions to be implemented.[http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=14184 "Military coup in Mauritania"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051128215509/http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=14184 |date=28 November 2005 }}, Middle East Online, 3 August 2005. The Military Council for Justice and Democracy named Col. Ely Ould Mohamed Vall, a top associate of al-Taya for many years, as its head.[http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=55712 "New military rulers face worldwide condemnation"], IRIN, 4 August 2005. File:Fahd bin Abdul Aziz.jpg (1921–2005). ]]Al-Taya, on his way back from Fahd's funeral, landed in Niamey, the capital of Niger. He met Niger's president Mamadou Tandja before going to a villa in Niamey.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4741243.stm "Mauritania officers 'seize power'"], BBC News, 4 August 2005. Speaking to Radio France Internationale on 5 August, al-Taya condemned the coup, saying that there had "never been a more senseless coup in Africa" and that it reminded him of the adage "God save me from my friends, I'll take care of my enemies".[http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=55757 "Junta outlines plans for new democracy as ousted president vows to return home"], IRIN, 8 August 2005.

On 8 August, he unsuccessfully attempted to order the Armed forces to restore him to power.{{Cite news |date=9 August 2005 |year=2005 |title=Mauritanie - Ould Taya appelle « ses forces à intervenir » La junte militaire à Nouakchott confirme ses intentions démocratiques |url=https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/509030/Mauritanie_-_Ould_Taya_appelle_%253C%253C_ses_forces_a_intervenir_%253E%253ELa_junte_militaire_a_Nouakchott_confirme_ses_intentions_democratiques.html |work=L'Orient-Le-Jour |language=fr}}Hademine Ould Sadi, [http://www.middle-east-online.com/English/mauritania/?id=14245 "Military rulers in Mauritania win AU backing"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061020021110/http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/mauritania/?id=14245 |date=20 October 2006 }}, Middle East Online, 10 August 2005. Broad support for the coup appeared to exist across the country; al-Taya's own party, PRDS, abandoned him a few days after the coup by endorsing the new regime's transitional plan.Hademine Ould Sadi, [http://www.middle-east-online.com/English/mauritania/?id=14225 "Mauritania's new junta keeps on winning friends"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061020021713/http://www.middle-east-online.com/English/mauritania/?id=14225 |date=20 October 2006 }}, Middle East Online, 8 August 2005. International reaction to al-Taya's overthrow was initially strongly hostile, including the suspension of Mauritania from the African Union, but after several days the new rulers were apparently diplomatically successful in winning tacit international acceptance of their transitional regime. The United States in particular at first called for al-Taya to be restored to power but subsequently backed away from this.

He left Niger for Banjul, Gambia, on 9 August 2005. After nearly two weeks there, he and his family flew to Qatar, where they arrived on 22 August.[http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__africa/&articleId=248692 "Ousted Mauritanian leader arrives in Qatar"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051216105217/http://www.mg.co.za/articlepage.aspx?area=%2Fbreaking_news%2Fbreaking_news__africa%2F&articleid=248692 |date=16 December 2005 }}, Mail & Guardian Online, 22 August 2005.

In April 2006, Vall said that al-Taya could return home as a free citizen, but would not be allowed to take part in the elections that were to mark the end of the transition because, Vall said, his participation could disrupt the transitional process; however, Vall said that he would be able to return to politics after the completion of the transition.[http://www.middle-east-online.com/English/mauritania/?id=16263 "Vall: Maaouiya Ould Taya free to return home"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061020021049/http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/mauritania/?id=16263 |date=20 October 2006 }}, Middle East Online, 19 April 2006.

In the March 2007 presidential election, al-Taya is said to have favored former Central Bank Governor Zeine Ould Zeidane.[http://www.jeuneafrique.com/jeune_afrique/article_jeune_afrique.asp?art_cle=LIN11037ouldtenadie0 "Ould Taya vote Ould Zeidane"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930183838/http://www.jeuneafrique.com/jeune_afrique/article_jeune_afrique.asp?art_cle=LIN11037ouldtenadie0 |date=30 September 2007 }}, Jeuneafrique.com, 11 March 2007 {{in lang|fr}}.

In late 2013, al-Taya was appointed a teacher at the Ahmed Bin Mohammad Military School, a military academy in Qatar.{{cite news |title=Ex-Mauritanian president to teach at Qatar military school |url=http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/africa/2013/09/30/Ex-Mauritania-president-to-teach-at-Qatar-military-school-.html |newspaper=Al Arabiya |date=30 September 2013 |access-date=30 September 2013}}

{{Noteslist}}

{{Reflist|2}}

• {{Cite news |last=Bekaye |first=Sheikh |date=2003-06-09 |title=Mauritanian Leader Under Fire |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2003/06/09/mauritanian-leader-under-fire/cec07fd9-01a2-4137-9708-db594c702a5d/ |access-date=2024-01-31 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}

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{{s-off}}

{{Succession box

| before = Sid'Ahmed Ould Bneijara

| title = Prime Minister of Mauritania

| years = 1981–1984

| after = Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla

}}

{{Succession box

| before = Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla

| title = Prime Minister of Mauritania

| years = 1984–1992

| after = Sidi Mohamed Ould Boubacar

}}

{{Succession box

| before = Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla

| title = President of Mauritania

| years = 1984–2005

| after = Colonel Ely Ould Mohamed Vall

}}

{{S-end}}

{{MauritanianPresidents}}

{{MauritaniaPMs}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Taya, Maaouya Oul Sid'Ahmed}}

Category:1941 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Adrar region

Category:Mauritanian Sunni Muslims

Category:Leaders who took power by coup

Category:Leaders ousted by a coup

Category:Mauritanian military personnel

Category:20th-century Mauritanian politicians

Category:21st-century Mauritanian politicians

Category:Republican Party for Democracy and Renewal politicians

Category:Heads of state of Mauritania

Category:Prime ministers of Mauritania