Ely Ould Mohamed Vall (1953 – 2017) was a Mauritanian military officer and politician who played a significant role in shaping Mauritania's political landscape. Vall was born in Nouakchott, Mauritania, in 1953 and pursued a career in the military. He joined the armed forces in the early 1970s, quickly rising through the ranks due to his strategic acumen and leadership skills. Vall became close to Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya, who would later become president of Mauritania.

In 1984, Vall was part of the group that helped Taya come to power through a coup. He subsequently became head of the national security agency and remained a trusted figure in the regime. However, over time, Vall's relationship with Taya deteriorated due to differing political views, and Vall became disillusioned with the corruption and autocratic nature of the government.

On August 3, 2005, Vall led a bloodless coup that overthrew President Taya while the latter was out of the country. The coup was seen as a reaction to widespread dissatisfaction with Taya's rule, especially his alliance with the West and controversial positions on Iraq and Israel. Vall became chairman of the Military Council for Justice and Democracy, the de facto leader of the country, promising to restore democracy within a short period.

During his leadership, Vall gained significant international and domestic support for initiating democratic reforms. He fulfilled his promise by organizing the country's first free and fair presidential elections in March 2007. Vall did not run for office, a rarity among African military leaders who typically retain power. He handed over power to the elected president, Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi, thus earning praise for his commitment to democracy.

Vall remained an influential figure in Mauritania's politics even after stepping down from power. He continued to be involved in public discourse and was known for his moderate stance and advocacy for political stability in the region. Vall passed away on May 5, 2017, while on a trip to northern Mauritania. His death was met with widespread mourning, as he was remembered as a key figure who helped transition Mauritania towards democracy.

REFERENCE:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ely_Ould_Mohamed_Vall