Babana's mother and neighbours were concerned that when he left his village, he would lose his cultural identity and support the French colonists.

After completing his studies at age 27, he taught briefly before becoming a French translator throughout Mauritania for ten years.

When Babana clashed with French officers in Atar over their harassment of Mauritanian women at a dance, he was fired, fined and exiled to Niger.

Babana, concerned about fiscal policy, supported higher salaries for workers and tax exemption for farmers.

Babana wanted to limit the French military budget and establish health centers and schools throughout Mauritania.

When the leaders arrived in Nouakchott, the Mauritanian capital, demonstrators led by Sayed Ahmed successfully fought police at the airport.

Training centers were established in Mauritania and neighboring Mali, Morocco and Senegal, with soldiers pledging not to loot or kill civilians.

As a result of his activities, Babana was convicted in absentia of high treason, stripped of his civil rights and sentenced to death.