Career
In April 1979, he seized power in a coup d"état together with Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidallah and other officers, ousting Mustafa Ould Salek from power. He became prime minister in the new government. He was killed the following month in an airplane crash off the coast of Dakar, Senegal, at which point Haidallah emerged as the regime"s main strongman.