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TIMELINE-African Union lifts sanctions on Mauritania
01 Jul 2009 17:54:34 GMT
 Source: Reuters
July 1 (Reuters) - The African Union has dropped sanctions on Mauritania and lifted a suspension from the body because of steps it is taking to restore democracy this month, the Union said in a statement on Wednesday.

Here is a timeline of events in Mauritania since independence:

Nov. 1960 - Independence won from France as the Islamic Republic of Mauritania with Moktar Ould Daddah as president.

1964 - Daddah proclaims a one-party state and the next year all parties merge to form the Parti du Peuple Mauritanien.

1966 & 1971 - Daddah is re-elected president.

1975 - Mauritania is declared an Islamic Socialist Republic.

July 1978 - Daddah is deposed in a bloodless coup by Moustapha Ould Mohamed Salek who assumes absolute power as president in March 1979.

Dec. 1984 - After a number of coup attempts, Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya seizes power and proclaims himself president. Almost two years later, Taya imposes sharia law.

Jan. 1992 - Taya is elected president with 63 percent of the vote under a 1991 constitution permitting multiple political parties but the opposition denounces the victory as fraudulent.

-- Taya is re-elected in 1997, and again in 2003 after another coup attempt in June that year.

Aug. 2005 - The army seizes power to end Taya's regime, and says it plans to rule for up to two years.

Nov. 2005 - 17-member junta pledges to hold presidential elections in March 2007.

June 2006 - In a referendum meant to end decades of coup attempts, voters overwhelmingly back constitutional changes ensuring no president can serve for more than a decade.

March 2007 - Former minister Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi wins a presidential run-off poll with 52.85 percent of the vote defeating opposition figure Ahmed Ould Daddah. Abdallahi was sworn in on April 19.

July 2008 - Abdallahi asks Prime Minister Yahya Ahmed El Waghef to form a new cabinet after the prime minister and his government resign following criticism of the government's response to soaring food prices.

Aug. 6, 2008 - Presidential guardsmen seize Abdallahi in a coup after he sacked several top army officers, including presidential guard chief General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz.

Aug. 7 - An 11-strong junta led by Abdel Aziz promises it will work with politicians and civic groups to organise presidential elections.

-- Washington demands Abdallahi be restored to power and, like the European Union, warns international aid could be cut.

Aug. 9 - The African Union says it will suspend Mauritania until democracy is restored.

Dec. 21 - The military junta frees Abdallahi from house arrest.

Jan. 23, 2009 - Mauritania says it will hold a presidential election on June 6, the first since the military coup.

Feb. 6 - The AU imposes sanctions on Mauritania including the denial of visas, travel restrictions and the freezing of some assets belonging to those involved in the coup.

March 14 - AU chief Muammar Gaddafi, following a visit to Mauritania, says Abdallahi must accept that the junta which overthrew him last August will not allow him to return to power.

June 2 - Presidential elections due to be held on June 6 are delayed until July 18, after several days of meetings between political parties.

June 26 - Ousted president Abdallahi announces his resignation and puts in place a new unity government under a deal with the soldiers who toppled him to allow a presidential election next month in July.

July 1 - The AU lifts its suspension and its sanctions on Mauritania.

July 18 - Presidential elections to be held.

Sources: Reuters/Europa Publications.


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