The 1980 Mauritanian coup d'état was a

military A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...

coup in

Mauritania Mauritania (; ar, موريتانيا, ', french: Mauritanie; Berber: ''Agawej'' or ''Cengit''; Pulaar: ''Moritani''; Wolof: ''Gànnaar''; Soninke:), officially the Islamic Republic of Mauritania ( ar, الجمهورية الإسلامية ...

which took place on 4 January 1980. The coup was led by the Prime Minister, Colonel

Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla Ret. Col. Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidallah ( ar, محمد خونا ولد هيداله ''Muḥammad Khouna Wald Haidallah'') (born 1940) was the head of state of Mauritania (Chairman of the Military Committee for National Salvation, CMSN) from 4 Janu ...

, who seized power from the President, Lieutenant Colonel

Mohamed Mahmoud Ould Louly Lt. Col. Mohamed Mahmoud Ould Louly ( ar, محمد محمود ولد أحمد لولي‎; 1 January 1943 – 16 March 2019) was the President of Mauritania and Chairman of the Military Committee for National Salvation The Military Committee f ...

. Haidalla had assumed the presidency of the 24-member ruling

Military Committee for National Salvation The Military Committee for National Salvation ( ar, المجلس العسكري للخلاص الوطني; french: Comité Militaire de Salut National, CMSN) was a military government of Mauritania that took power in the 1979 coup d'état. It was ...

(CMSN),"Mauritania: The Haidalla Regime"
''

Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country. The library is ...

Country Studies'' a military junta which was created following an earlier coup in 1979. Following the coup, Haidalla continued to serve as both President and Prime Minister until 12 December 1980, when he appointed a civilian government with

Sid Ahmed Ould Bneijara Sid Ahmed Ould Bneijara (1947 – 30 August 2017) was the 4th Prime Minister of Mauritania from December 12, 1980 to April 25, 1981. Biography He had a short term as the governor of Central Bank of Mauritania in summer 1978. He was first appointe ...

as Prime Minister.

References

Military coups in Mauritania Mauritanian coup d'etat History of Mauritania Coup Mauritanian coup d'etat Mauritanian coup d'etat {{Mauritania-hist-stub