Nouakchott raid (1976)
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = First Nouackchott raid
| place = Nouakchott, Mauritania
| partof = Western Sahara War
| result = Mauritanian victory{{Cite news |date=1977-07-05 |title=Exclu du " sommet " de Libreville le Polisario lance un nouveau raid sur Nouakchott |language=fr |work=Le Monde.fr |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/1977/07/05/exclu-du-sommet-de-libreville-le-polisario-lance-un-nouveau-raid-sur-nouakchott_2860777_1819218.html |access-date=2023-07-17 |quote=Le repérage du convoi par pur hasard du Polisario par un avion mauritanien avait annulé l'effet de surprise et a entraîné l'échec du raid.}}
- First president of SADR El-Ouali Mustapha Sayed killed{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mJcuAAAAIBAJ&dq=Nouakchott+polisario&pg=PA10&article_id=1910,2532194 |title=The Montreal Gazette |publisher=The Montreal Gazette |language=en |quote=Polisario leader dies in skirmish with Mauritania}}
- Polisario fighters were pushed back by Mauritanian army{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mJcuAAAAIBAJ&dq=Nouakchott+polisario&pg=PA10&article_id=1910,2532194 |title=The Montreal Gazette |publisher=The Montreal Gazette |language=en |quote=A Polisario communique issued in Algiers said its forces launched two attacks on Nouakchott but were pushed back bu Mauritanian troops.}}
- Polisario failed overthrow of the regime of Moktar Ould Daddah
| combatant1 = {{flag|Mauritania|1959}}
| combatant2 = {{tree list}}
- {{flag|Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic}}
- {{flagicon image|Flag of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.svg}} Polisario Front
{{tree list/end}}
| commander1 = {{flagicon|Mauritania|1959}} Moktar Ould Daddah
{{flagicon|Mauritania|1959}} Col. Ahmed Ould Bouceif{{Cite book |last=Pazzanita |first=Anthony G. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-KU_9MfXKKYC&dq=Nouakchott+1976&pg=PA372 |title=Historical Dictionary of Mauritania |date=2008-10-23 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=978-0-8108-6265-4 |language=en |quote=Col. Ahmed Ould Bouceif, quickly dispatched 400 of his men to try to beat Polisario...}}
{{flagicon|Mauritania|1959}} Lt-Col. Mohammed Khouna Ould Heydallah{{Cite book |last=Pazzanita |first=Anthony G. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-KU_9MfXKKYC&dq=Nouakchott+1976&pg=PA373 |title=Historical Dictionary of Mauritania |date=2008-10-23 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=978-0-8108-6265-4 |pages=373 |language=en |quote=Lt.-Col. Mohammed Khouna Ould Heydallah [...] intended to relieve the Nouakchott raiders...}}
| commander2 = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.svg}} El-Ouali Mustapha Sayed{{KIA}}
| strength1 = {{flagicon|Mauritania|1959}} +400 under Ahmed Ould Bouceif
| strength2 = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.svg}} +500 (several hundred guerrillas)
| casualties1 = {{flagicon|Mauritania|1959}} 4 killed, +10 injured{{Cite news |date=1976-06-22 |title=APRÈS LE RAID CONTRE NOUAKCHOTT Les dirigeants redoutent de nouvelles actions du Front Polisario |language=fr |work=Le Monde.fr |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/1976/06/22/apres-le-raid-contre-nouakchott-les-dirigeants-redoutent-de-nouvelles-actions-du-front-polisario_3121134_1819218.html |access-date=2023-07-17 |quote=De leur côté, les Mauritaniens ont eu quatre morts et une dizaine de blessés.}}
| casualties2 = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.svg}} 100–200 killed{{Cite book |last=Pazzanita |first=Anthony G. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-KU_9MfXKKYC&dq=Nouakchott+1976&pg=PA373 |title=Historical Dictionary of Mauritania |date=2008-10-23 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=978-0-8108-6265-4 |language=en |quote=on 9 June, and hundreds of insurgents were kiled...}}{{Cite news |date=1976-06-22 |title=APRÈS LE RAID CONTRE NOUAKCHOTT Les dirigeants redoutent de nouvelles actions du Front Polisario |language=fr |work=Le Monde.fr |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/1976/06/22/apres-le-raid-contre-nouakchott-les-dirigeants-redoutent-de-nouvelles-actions-du-front-polisario_3121134_1819218.html |access-date=2023-07-17 |quote=Cette action s'est soldée pour le Polisario, dans les jours qui suivirent, par plus de deux cents morts et presque autant de prisonniers...}}
| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Western Sahara War}}
| coordinates =
| image = 15-Nouakchott-eH-R0058185.jpg
| caption = Nouakchott in 2017
}}
The raid on Nouakchott in June 1976 was a significant military operation carried out by the Polisario Front, a Western Saharan guerrilla group, against the Mauritanian capital, Nouakchott. Led by their leader El-Ouali Mustapha Sayed, the Polisario forces aimed to overthrow the regime of President Moktar Ould Daddah.
Prelude
In early June 1976, a force of several hundred Polisario guerrillas, led by El-Ouali Mustapha Sayed, embarked on a raid from their rear base in Tindouf, Algeria. The convoy consisted of approximately a hundred vehicles, including several Berliet-Algerian trucks loaded with ammunition, communication equipment, fuel, and supplies. They were equipped with heavy weaponry, such as 120mm mortars and 110mm recoilless Russian cannons. Surprisingly, there were also "anti-aircraft ramps," although these were not utilized during the raid.{{Cite news |date=1976-06-22 |title=APRÈS LE RAID CONTRE NOUAKCHOTT Les dirigeants redoutent de nouvelles actions du Front Polisario |language=fr |work=Le Monde.fr |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/1976/06/22/apres-le-raid-contre-nouakchott-les-dirigeants-redoutent-de-nouvelles-actions-du-front-polisario_3121134_1819218.html |access-date=2023-07-17}}
The main objective of the raid was to reach Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania, which had been left practically undefended as most of the country's armed forces were stationed far to the north. The Polisario forces planned to launch an attack on President Moktar Ould Daddah's residence.{{Cite news |date=1977-07-05 |title=Exclu du " sommet " de Libreville le Polisario lance un nouveau raid sur Nouakchott |language=fr |work=Le Monde.fr |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/1977/07/05/exclu-du-sommet-de-libreville-le-polisario-lance-un-nouveau-raid-sur-nouakchott_2860777_1819218.html |access-date=2023-07-17}}
Initial skirmishes and raid
The Polisario convoy was spotted by a Mauritanian pilot on June 5, near the town of Zouérate, which led to the Mauritanian forces realizing the true objective of the Polisario's raid. Responding swiftly, Mauritanian forces, under the command of Lt.-Col. Ahmed Ould Bouceif, sent 400 troops to intercept the Polisario before they could reach Nouakchott. Despite Mauritanian efforts, the Polisario guerrillas reached the outskirts of the capital on June 8.{{Cite book |last=Pazzanita |first=Anthony G. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-KU_9MfXKKYC&dq=Nouakchott+1976&pg=PA372 |title=Historical Dictionary of Mauritania |date=2008-10-23 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=978-0-8108-6265-4 |language=en}}
On the morning of June 8, the Polisario forces managed to shell the grounds of President Ould Daddah's residence for approximately 30 minutes. However, due to the absence of the element of surprise and reinforced Mauritanian defenses, they had to retreat.
Casualties and aftermath
The retreat of the Polisario forces was met with fierce resistance from Mauritanian troops, particularly near the settlement of Bennichab on June 9. Hundreds of insurgents were killed in the ensuing battle. Notably, the raid resulted in the death of Polisario's Secretary-General, El Ouali, and his military deputy, about 100 kilometers north of Nouakchott. Polisario forces suffered over 200 casualties, and almost an equal number were taken as prisoners. On the Mauritanian side, four soldiers lost their lives, and around ten were injured during the raid.
Notes and references
Category:1976 in Western Sahara
Category:Battles involving Mauritania
Category:Western Sahara conflict
Category:History of Nouakchott
Category:Battles involving Polisario Front
Category:Foreign involvement in regime change
Category:Attempted coups d'état in Mauritania
Category:1970s coups d'état and coup attempts
Category:Attacks on official residences
Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in 1976
Category:Attacks on government buildings and structures in Africa