Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya
358683
222454374
2008-06-29T12:31:56Z
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{{Infobox_President
| name=Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya<br>معاوية ولد سيد أحمد الطايع
|image=Mauritania gov ould taya 210 eng 30apr05.jpg
|imagesize=100px
| nationality= [[Mauritanian]]
| order= [[Heads of State of Mauritania|President]]
| term_start= [[12 December]] [[1984]]
| term_end=[[3 August]], [[2005]]
| predecessor= [[Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla]]
| successor= [[Ely Ould Mohamed Vall]]
| birth_date= [[1941]]
| birth_place= [[Atar, Mauritania|Atar]], [[Mauritania]]
| deatd=alive
| spouse=
| party=
| religion= [[Sunni Islam]]
| vicepresident=
}}
'''Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya''' ({{lang-ar|معاوية ولد سيد أحمد الطايع}}) (born [[1941]]), also [[Arabic transliteration|transliterated]] as '''Mu'awiya walad Sayyidi Ahmad Taya''', was [[Heads of State of Mauritania|president]] of [[Mauritania]] from 1984 to 2005.
==Early years==
Born in the town of [[Atar, Mauritania|Atar]] ([[Adrar Region]]), Ould 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. In 1975, he received strategic training at the French War Academy. In [[1978]] the Mauritanian army seized power and ousted President [[Moktar Ould Daddah]], in an attempt to forestall government collapse in the war over [[Western Sahara]] against the [[Polisario Front]] (1975-79). Ould Taya was among the conspirators, and quickly gained influence within the government.
==President of Mauritania==
After holding various positions in the military, Ould Taya was appointed Chief of Staff of the Army in January 1981, during the rule of military head of state [[Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla]]. In the aftermath of a failed coup against Ould Haidalla in March 1981, Ould Taya was appointed [[Heads of Government of Mauritania|Prime Minister]] on [[25 April]] [[1981]], replacing civilian prime minister [[Sid Ahmed Ould Bneijara]]. He held this office until [[8 March]] [[1984]], when Ould Haidalla, who was still head of state, took over the post. On [[12 December]] [[1984]], while Ould Haidalla was out of the country, Ould Taya seized power and declared himself Chairman of the Military Committee for National Salvation.
The Ould Taya government continued to, in the tradition of previous governments, favor the White [[Moors|Moorish]] community in Mauritania. Black [[Moors]] and [[Black African]]s were discriminated against, and political unrest in the non-[[Arab]] south was put down with military means.
Ould 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. Ould Taya, candidate of the newly formed [[Democratic and Social Republican Party]] (PRDS), received nearly 63% of the vote<ref name="Elections">[http://africanelections.tripod.com/mr.html Elections in Mauritania], African Elections Database.</ref> amid opposition claims of serious irregularities and fraud. He won slightly more than 90% of the vote in the [[12 December]] [[1997]] presidential election, which was boycotted by major opposition [[List of political parties in Mauritania|political parties]];<ref name="Elections"/><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/39080.stm "Mauritanian president wins poll"], BBC.co.uk, December 13, 1997.</ref> anticipating fraud, they said that this would make their participation futile.<ref>Themon Djaksam, [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0JQP/is_295/ai_30126497 "Country profile: Mauritania"], ''New Internationalist'', October 1997.</ref>
==Political instability==
The last years of Ould Taya's rule were marred by unrest within the military and hostility between the regime and the country's [[Islamist]]s. Ould Taya's harsh response to the religious opposition triggered criticisms from abroad. Ould Taya also moved away from his support of the [[Iraq]]i regime of [[Saddam Hussein]] at the time of the 1991 [[Gulf War]], and moved towards the West.<ref>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"], Associated Press, August 10, 2005.</ref> In late 1999, Mauritania established full diplomatic relations with [[Israel]], becoming only the third Arab country to do so.<ref>Barry Schweid, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/aponline/19991028/aponline125956_000.htm "Mauritania, Israel Form Ties"], Associated Press (''The Washington Post''), October 28, 1999.</ref> Ould Taya's close ties with Israel and the [[United States]] served to deepen the opposition to his rule.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4743707.stm "Q&A: Mauritania's power struggles"], BBC News, August 3, 2005.</ref>
In [[June 2003]] Ould Taya's government survived a coup attempt, defeating rebel soldiers after two days of fighting in the capital, [[Nouakchott]];<ref>[http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=44220 "Ould Taya survives coup attempt"], IRIN, June 9, 2003.</ref> 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 2004 and sentenced to life in prison along with other alleged plotters in early 2005.<ref>[http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=51680 "Government arrests mastermind behind coup plots"], IRIN, October 12, 2004.</ref><ref>[http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=52899 "Coup plotters get life in prison but escape death sentence"], IRIN, February 3, 2005.</ref> On [[7 November]] [[2003]] [[Mauritanian presidential election, 2003|a presidential election]] was held, which was won by Ould Taya with over 67% of the vote.<ref name="Elections"/> 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.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3254431.stm "Top Mauritanian politician held"], BBC News, November 9, 2003.</ref> In August 2004, the government arrested more alleged coup plotters, who it said had planned to overthrow Ould 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.<ref>[http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=50989 "Defence minister confirms coup plot, arrests"], IRIN, August 11, 2004.</ref> In late September, the government claimed to have thwarted yet another plot to oust Ould Taya.<ref>[http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=51538 "Government says foils third coup plot in 15 months"], IRIN, September 29, 2004.</ref>
Anticipating an increase in government revenue through the exploitation of natural resources, particularly offshore oil deposits, Ould Taya announced an increase in pay for the civil service and pensions in November 2004.<ref>[http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=52265 "President raises wages ahead of oil boom"], IRIN, November 30, 2004.</ref>
==Fall from power==
While Ould Taya was out of the country for the funeral of [[Saudi Arabia|Saudi]] king [[Fahd of Saudi Arabia|Fahd]] 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]], announced a [[coup d'état]] in a statement run by the state news agency on August 3:
:''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.<ref>[http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=14184 "Military coup in Mauritania"], Middle East Online, August 3, 2005.</ref> The Military Council for Justice and Democracy named [[Colonel|Col.]] [[Ely Ould Mohamed Vall]], a top associate of Ould Taya for many years, as its head.<ref name="Condemnation">[http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=55712 "New military rulers face worldwide condemnation"], IRIN, August 4, 2005.</ref>
Ould Taya, on his way back from Fahd's funeral, landed in [[Niamey]], the capital of [[Niger]].<ref name="Condemnation"/> He met Niger's president [[Mamadou Tandja]] before going to a villa in Niamey.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4741243.stm "Mauritania officers 'seize power'"], BBC News, August 4, 2005.</ref> Speaking to [[Radio France Internationale]] on [[August 5]], Ould 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".<ref name="Outline">[http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=55757 "Junta outlines plans for new democracy as ousted president vows to return home"], IRIN, August 8, 2005.</ref> On [[August 8]], he unsuccessfully attempted to order the armed forces to restore him to power.<ref name=Outline/><ref name="Gambia">Hademine Ould Sadi, [http://www.middle-east-online.com/English/mauritania/?id=14245 "Military rulers in Mauritania win AU backing"], Middle East Online, August 10, 2005.</ref> Broad support for the coup appeared to exist across the country; Ould Taya's own PRDS party abandoned him a few days after the coup by endorsing the new regime's transitional plan.<ref name="Outline"/><ref>Hademine Ould Sadi, [http://www.middle-east-online.com/English/mauritania/?id=14225 "Mauritania's new junta keeps on winning friends"], Middle East Online, August 8, 2005.</ref> International reaction to Ould 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 Ould Taya to be restored to power but subsequently backed away from this.<ref name="Gambia"/>
He left Niger for [[Banjul]], [[The Gambia|Gambia]] on August 9, 2005.<ref name="Gambia"/> After nearly two weeks there, he and his family flew to [[Qatar]], where they arrived on August 22.<ref>[http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__africa/&articleId=248692 "Ousted Mauritanian leader arrives in Qatar"], Mail & Guardian Online, August 22, 2005.</ref>
In April 2006, Vall said that Ould 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.<ref>[http://www.middle-east-online.com/English/mauritania/?id=16263 "Vall: Maaouiya Ould Taya free to return home"], Middle East Online, April 19, 2006.</ref>
In the [[Mauritanian presidential election, 2007|March 2007 presidential election]], Ould Taya is said to have favored former central bank governor [[Zeine Ould Zeidane]].<ref>[http://www.jeuneafrique.com/jeune_afrique/article_jeune_afrique.asp?art_cle=LIN11037ouldtenadie0 "Ould Taya vote Ould Zeidane"], Jeuneafrique.com, March 11, 2007 {{fr icon}}.</ref>
==References==
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{{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 = [[Heads of State of Mauritania|President of Mauritania]]|years=1984–2005| after = Colonel [[Ely Ould Mohamed Vall]]}}
{{succession box | before = [[Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla]]| title = [[Prime Minister of Mauritania]] | years= 1984–1992| after = [[Sidi Mohamed Ould Boubacar]]}}
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{{MauritanianPresidents}}
{{MauritaniaPMs}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Taya, Maaouya Oul Sid Ahmed}}
[[Category:1941 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Mauritanian politicians]]
[[Category:Leaders ousted by a coup]]
[[ar:معاوية ولد سيدي أحمد الطايع]]
[[de:Maaouya Ould Sid’Ahmed Taya]]
[[et:Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya]]
[[es:Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya]]
[[fr:Maaouiya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya]]
[[gl:Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya]]
[[id:Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya]]
[[he:מעאוויה ולד סידאחמד טאייע]]
[[ja:マーウイヤ・ウルド・シディ・アハメド・タヤ]]
[[no:Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya]]
[[nn:Maaouya Ould Taya]]
[[pl:Maawija uld Sid'Ahmad Taja]]
[[fi:Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya]]
[[sv:Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya]]
[[zh:马维亚·乌尔德·西德·艾哈迈德·塔亚]]