Possible Coup Attempt in Mauritania, President, Prime Minister Detained

The Mauritanian head of state Sidi Mohamed Ould Sheik Abdallahi and his Prime Minister Yahya Ould Ahmed Waghf have been arrested on Wednesday and detained at the base of the presidential guard while civil servants and other members of the society have been denied access to the presidential palace, APA learned from corroborating sources in Nouakchott.

However, an official statement is yet to be issued in the capital, where troop movements are being reported. Observers report that the country has embarked on a course that may lead to a coup d’etat.

A group of high-ranking officers, three generals and one colonel, all former members of the Justice and Democracy Military Council (CMJD), were dismissed on Wednesday morning, a dispatch of the Mauritanian information agency (AMI) quoted a presidential decree as saying.

It is reported that the dismissed officers, including Brigadier Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, are those who arrested the president and the Prime Minister.

Changes in the Mauritanian army affected particularly the special chief of staff of the President, Brigadier Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, who was replaced by Colonel Mohamed Ahmed Ould Ismail, the national chief of staff, General Mohamed Ould Sheik Mohamed Ahmed was replaced by Colonel Abderrahmane Ould Boubacar and the chief of staff of the national guard General Felix Negri was replaced by his deputy Colonel Mesgharou Ould Sidi. While the chief of staff of the gendarmerie, Colonel Ahmed Ould Bekrine was replaced by his deputy Colonel Ahmed Ould Mohamed El Kory.

Source African Press Agency

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