The government of Mauritania was overthrown by an Army coup today.

Army officers announced a new junta was in control of the west African nation which will be led by the head of the presidential guard.

The coup took place after the president and prime minister fired the country’s top four military officials.

A brief announcement read over state television said the new “state council” will be led by presidential guard chief general Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz. It gave no other details.

President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi was being held by rebel soldiers at the presidential palace in Nouakchott, according to a presidential spokesman. Soldiers also detained Prime Minister Yahya Ould Ahmed Waqef.

State radio and television went off air and witnesses said soldiers were deployed throughout the capital.

The African Union condemned the coup and demanded a return to constitutional government. "The African Union , condemns the coup d'Etat and demands the restoration of constitutional legality," said a statement issued at AU headquarters in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

The European Commission condemned the coup and demanded that Mr Abdallahi be restored to power. "The European Commission is very concerned by the situation in Mauritania, which puts into question the remarkable democratic progress in this country," it said in a statement.

EU Aid Commissioner Louis Michel said it could "put into question our policy of cooperation with Mauritania." The EU executive had allocated some €156 million of aid for 2008-2013.

Straddling the western edge of the Sahara desert, Arab-dominated Mauritania, with a population of 3.4 million, has seen more than 10 coups or attempted coups since independence from France in 1960. It became Africa’s
newest oil producer after reserves were discovered in 2006.

Mr Abdallahi’s civilian government took control from a military junta, which seized power in a 2005 coup and stepped down after 2007 elections. The president had been under pressure for weeks from politicians who accused him of corruption.

The 2005 coup, which saw colonel Ely Ould Mohamed Vall seize power bloodlessly and declare himself president, was widely popular, for many Mauritanians had grown tired of the 21-year rule of former dictator Maaoya Sid’Ahmed Ould Taya.

Al-Qaeda-linked militants have been active in the country, launching sporadic attacks on the military and other targets. Mauritania blamed the 2007 Christmas Eve murders of four French tourists on an Islamic terrorist group.
The attacks prompted French organisers to cancelled this year’s Dakar Rally.


Is this what we need in Nigeria for us to move in a better direction?

If we’re to experience coup in Nigeria today, which of the experience military leaders will you root for to lead the coup with guarantee of better returns? A leader capable of repeating the saga that happened in Ghana during “Rulings” regime.

Yes, Nigeria needs the Iron hand but not that extreme!!!

The boys are back in town.

abi oh.

am sure the military in various African countries are gearing up for D Day.

It annoys me to my bone, when people mention Military take over in Nigeria.

Peeps it was less than a decade ago that we were fasting and praying to GOD for the elusive Democracy.

Or do you think there would have been Nairaland, among other thing we enjoy , if the military were on ground?

Please stop it oh

Democracy has come to stay in Nigeria

otokx:

Democracy has come to stay in Nigeria

Which democracy? A one party state?

@ Ibime : abeg make you help me tell am.

nigeria right now needs either a revolution or a military intervention to rid the country of all these corrupt politicians.

the average nigerian does not seem ready for a revolution and the way things are going on in nigeria today, it seems as if a repeat of what happened in 1983 is imminent.

the average Nigerian needs to wake up, smell the coffee and know where its at.

the leaders are a reflection of the people.

True change starts from the individual attitude.

AAs who complain all the time about white discrimniation, tend to remain in the ghetto.

Not to say there's no color discrimination, but constant complaining while refusing to accept your own faults, keeps you down.

tpia:

the average Nigerian needs to wake up, smell the coffee and know where its at.

the leaders are a reflection of the people.

True change starts from the individual attitude.

AAs who complain all the time about white discrimniation, tend to remain in the ghetto.

Not to say there's no color discrimination, but constant complaining while refusing to accept your own faults, keeps you down.

Word

How can we be canvassing for democracy when people (common man) are still battling with right to one square meal per day, right to good infrastructure, right to proper education, right to general freedom of living? Where as our proclaimed democratic leaders are siphoning billions for their own selfish act. Instead of modifying and elevating the country like they were voted to do, they use money meant for their country and state to build refinery, mansion, buying yatch…living flamboyantly like there is no tomorrow. I believe we need military intervention in order to elevate proper democracy. I understand most of these military leaders are useless as well; but in between, we should be able to find some that are patriotic enough to stop all these atrocities and lead us to the promise land.

what has the military done for Nigeria: Obj, Buhari,Babangida, Abacha, Abdulsalami; all of them are millionaires from corruption.

If this is the best that the military can give us, then we are better of, with Baba go slow that we know.

This is the 2nd year of Yaradua. Is the situation getting any better?

I understand most of all the military leaders have failed us and I also believe some performed better than expectation. Some of us witnessed the days of Tunde Idiagbon and Buhari, Muritala Mohammed. Most of our problem today erupts from the fact that our three form of government are not united when it comes to decision making, implementation and upholding the law. This is my perspective of things. Nigeria and Nigerians need a visionary leader (military leader)…who will impose good reform on us, implement the reform and uphold it. Create avenue to punish whoever try to make a mockery out of the system / his reform.

I’m not an advocate of coup or whatever, but I believe this form of government will instill fear in people and curb corruption.

Na Mauritanian we come discuss here o!no be baba go-slow,bla!bla!bla!.Now,let's see what the military men will do except 'stop foreign aid,increase inflation,unemployment,poverty,enrich themselves,start multiple coup d'etat among themselves,increase ethnic unrest,etc.The military aren't just made to rule!!!