[1] The coup was led by the Army Chief of Staff, Colonel Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya, who seized power in the capital Nouakchott while the President, Colonel Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla, was out of the country.

[2] Haidalla was attending a francophone summit in Bujumbura, Burundi.

Reports from Nouakchott said the coup had caused no disruption and business remained normal.

Military reinforcements were evident near the radio and television stations and a few public buildings, the reports said.

[2] After initially fleeing to Brazzaville, People's Republic of the Congo,[2] Haidalla returned to the country a day later,[3] and he was arrested and imprisoned until 1988.