Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya

Role / Field:

Mauritanian military officer and politician who served as President from 1984 to 2005.

Born:

1941-11-28

Century / Era:

1941s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Ould Taya (born 28 November 1941) is a Mauritanian military officer and politician who served as the President of Mauritania from 1984 to 2005. He also served as the fifth Prime minister of Mauritania from 1981 to 1992 except for a brief period in 1984. Born in Atar, French West Africa, Ould Taya studied at Franco-Arab school and then French military school. He participated in the Western Sahara War against the Polisario Front.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Ould Taya was appointed Chief of the Army staff in July 1980 and then as Prime minister in April 1981 after an unsuccessful coup attempt against Mohamed Haidalla. Having come to power through a bloodless military coup, he won the 2003 elections and was ousted by a military coup in 2005. During his presidency, he pursued policies of Arab nationalism and deepening ties with the United States. He established close relations with Saddam Hussein of Iraq and had a pro-Iraqi stance on the Gulf War. Maaouya Ould Sidi Ahmed Ould Taya was born on 28 November 1941 in Atar, then part of French Mauritania.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Ould Taya attended a Franco-Arabic Primary School from 1949 to 1955. He then attended Rosso High School in southern...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Adam Kuper — Contemporary (Born in 1941) (1941): Influential British social anthropologist known for research in Southern Africa.
• Adnan Khayr Allah — Contemporary (Born in 1941) (1941): Iraqi military officer and Minister of Defense, closely associated with the Ba'ath regime.
• Alan Mullery — Contemporary (Born in 1941) (1941): Iconic English footballer and manager known for his time at Fulham and Spurs.
• ʻAbdu'l-Bahá — Shared historical date (11-28 · Died) (1921): Successor to Baháʼu'lláh and guiding light of the Baháʼí Faith.
• Adria Petty — Shared historical date (11-28 · Born) (1974): American director, editor, and artist known for music video work with Beyoncé.
• Aldrich Ames — Historical peer (Born in 1941) (1941): American CIA analyst and notorious Soviet spy convicted of espionage.
• Alex Ferguson — Historical peer (Born in 1941) (1941): Legendary Scottish football manager, most famous for his unparalleled success with Manchester United.
• AB de Villiers — Historical peer (Born in 1984) (1984): Iconic South African cricketer, celebrated for his all-around batting genius.
• Adriene Mishler — Historical peer (Born in 1984) (1984): American yoga instructor, actress, and YouTube entrepreneur.
• Ahmed Zaki (actor) — Historical peer (Died in 2005) (2005): Iconic Egyptian actor celebrated for intense dramatic performances and masterful impersonation.
• 1941 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1941
• November 28 (11-28) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on November 28

Frequently Asked Questions about Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya