List of Presidents of Mauritania: Past and Present

Last updated November 2026

This page lists the presidents and heads of state of Mauritania from 1960 to the present, with the years each leader was in office and a short summary of their time in power. Use it to find the current president of Mauritania, former presidents, and key dates in the country's political history.

Current president of Mauritania: Mohamed Ould Ghazouani (in office since 2019).

Presidents of Mauritania in order, with years in office

Moktar Ould Daddah

Served: 1960–1978

First president of independent Mauritania; deposed in the coup of 10 July 1978.

Mustafa Ould Salek

Served: 1978–1979

Led the military committee until he resigned in June 1979.

Mohamed Mahmoud Ould Louly

Served: 1979–1980

Military leader deposed in January 1980.

Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla

Served: 1980–1984

Ruled until he was deposed in December 1984.

Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya

Served: 1984–2005

Ruled for over 20 years until he was deposed in August 2005.

Ely Ould Mohamed Vall

Served: 2005–2007

Led the military council after the 2005 coup and handed power to an elected president in 2007.

Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi

Served: 2007–2008

Won the 2007 election and was deposed in the coup of 6 August 2008.

Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz

Served: 2008–2009, 2009–2019

Led the 2008 coup, then won the 2009 and 2014 elections and stepped down in 2019, the first president to follow the term limit.

Ba Mamadou Mbaré

Served: 2009 (interim)

Senate president who served as interim head of state from April to August 2009.

Mohamed Ould Ghazouani

Served: 2019–present

Retired general who has been president since 1 August 2019.

Frequently asked questions about the presidents of Mauritania

Who is the current president of Mauritania?

The current head of state of Mauritania is Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, in office since 2019.

Who were the previous presidents of Mauritania?

The presidents and heads of state of Mauritania listed on this page, in order, are: Moktar Ould Daddah, Mustafa Ould Salek, Mohamed Mahmoud Ould Louly, Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla, Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya, Ely Ould Mohamed Vall, Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, Ba Mamadou Mbaré, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani.

Who was the first president of Mauritania?

Moktar Ould Daddah was the first president of Mauritania, in office 1960–1978.

Sources: Wikipedia, List of heads of state of Mauritania; WorldStatesmen.org, Mauritania (checked Nov 2026). Includes military and interim leaders, who are labelled.. Last reviewed November 2026.

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