Maghreb Blog

A group of enthusiastic bloggers from the Maghreb world; that consists of Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Libya and Mauritania; have launched a new project under the name of Maghreb Blog. This group blog mainly discusses news from across the region, common issues and more, in an attempt to promote the Maghreb...

Africa: The AU's priorities

Black Star Journal applauds the fact that the African Union has condemned the coup in Mauritania, but wonders where the rest of their priorities are.

Mauritania's Military Council Negotiating with Hanana

*Al Akhbar (The News – in Arabic) reports at 19:13 that the The Military Council for Justice and Democracy is negotiating with Saleh Weld Hanana, the leader of the Reform Knights – which lead the first coup try in June 2003. Hanana was jailed for life since then. The aim...

Mauritanians report on today's coup

The blog of the Parti Mauritanien pour la Défense de l'Environnement Les Verts (Mauritanian Party for the Defense of the Environment – The Green Party) is celebrating the coup against Mauritanian president Ould Sid Ahmed Taya, offering an article titled Démonstrations de joie dans les rues de Nouakchott” (Demonstrations of...

Mauritania: Coup d'etat

Mauritanian blogger Rauf writes about the apparent coup that has taken place in Mauritania. A rough, machine-assisted translation of what's been posted to his blog:

Shootings with heavy weapon were heard Wednesday morning in Nouakchott after the presidential guard had taken the control of several strategic points of the Mauritanian capital, where a military coup d'etat has occurred in the absence of the Head of the State, Maaouyia Ould Taya. As of 5H00 local (and GMT), soldiers of the presidential guard took the control of the buildings of the staff, the radio and national television and blocked access to the presidency and the ministries, according to this source. According to observers, they also positioned vehicles equipped with heavy weapons and anti-aircraft batteries at several strategic points of the capital. Five shootings of heavy machines resounded with 10h15 close to the center of Nouakchott, whose streets were emptied gradually, of the population. In the capital, the administrative buildings were deserted and activity was weak at the end of the morning, with only some pedestrians and vehicles in the streets.