Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya, born on November 28, 1941, in Atar, Mauritania, was a prominent Mauritanian political and military figure. He came from a nomadic Arab-Berber family and pursued military education in France, becoming an officer in the Mauritanian army. His rise to power was a result of a coup in 1984, where he ousted the then-president Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla. Taya then served as Mauritania's head of state from December 12, 1984, to August 3, 2005, marking one of the longest-serving presidencies in Africa.

As president, Taya led Mauritania through a complex period of transformation, shifting its alliances from the Arab world towards the West, particularly building ties with Israel. In 1999, Mauritania became the third Arab League member to establish diplomatic relations with Israel, which was a controversial move and provoked opposition domestically and regionally. Despite this, Taya's government maintained a pro-Western stance, aligning itself with France and the United States, especially after the September 11 attacks when Taya supported the U.S. war on terror.

His rule, however, was marked by accusations of human rights abuses, particularly towards the black African population in the southern part of the country. His regime was authoritarian, with limited political freedom, and he repeatedly won elections that were criticized by international observers for lack of transparency and fairness.

Taya's downfall came in 2005 when he was overthrown in a military coup while attending the funeral of King Fahd of Saudi Arabia. The coup was bloodless and led by Colonel Ely Ould Mohamed Vall, a former ally of Taya. Following his overthrow, Taya sought asylum in Qatar, where he has resided since his ousting, remaining largely out of the public eye.

Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya's presidency was notable for its internal and external contradictions—while he modernized aspects of Mauritania and navigated complex geopolitical waters, his regime was often criticized for its repression and exclusionary policies.

REFERENCE:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maaouya_Ould_Sid%27Ahmed_Taya