- Mauritanian presidential election, 2003
-
Mauritania
This article is part of the series:
Politics and government of
Mauritania
A presidential election was held in Mauritania on November 7, 2003. As expected, President Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya was easily re-elected against weak opposition. The opposition alleged election fraud, and Taya's main challenger, former military ruler Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla (the man who Taya ousted when he seized power in December 1984), was arrested both immediately before and after the vote.[1] The election did see two notable firsts: Aicha Bint Jeddane was the first female presidential candidate, and Messaoud Ould Boulkheir was the first descendant of slaves to run for the office.[2]
The election took place a few months after a violent unsuccessful coup d'état attempt in June 2003, and Taya was overthrown in a coup two years later, in August 2005.
Election results
Summary of the 7 November 2003 Mauritanian presidential election results Candidates - parties Votes % Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya - Democratic and Social Republican Party 438,915 67.0 Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla 123,244 18.7 Ahmed Ould Daddah 45,314 6.9 Messaoud Ould Boulkheir 33,089 5.0 Moulaye Elhacen Ould Jeid 9,768 1.5 Aïcha Mint Jedaane 3,100 0,5 Total valid votes 658,148 100.0 Invalid votes 15,443 Total votes (turnout 60.8 %) 673,591 Source: Ambaki Dakar Website References
- ^ "Top Mauritanian politician held", BBC.co.uk, November 9, 2003.
- ^ Gamal Nkrumah, "Mauritania's day postponed", Al-Ahram Weekly, 13–19 November 2005, Issue No. 664.
Elections and referendums in Mauritania
Presidential elections Parliamentary elections French elections 1946 · 1951 · 1956 · 1958Referendums Categories:- Elections in Mauritania
- 2003 elections in Africa
- 2003 in Mauritania
- African election stubs
- Mauritania stubs
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.