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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.

[edit] Election results

e • d **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

[edit] 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.

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[0] "Top Mauritanian politician held", BBC.co.uk, November 9, 2003.

[1] Gamal Nkrumah, "Mauritania's day postponed", Al-Ahram Weekly, 13–19 November 2005, Issue No. 664.

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