Nouakchott raid (1976)

The raid on Nouakchott in June 1976 was a significant military operation carried out by the Polisario Front, a Western Saharan guerrilla group, against the Mauritanian capital, Nouakchott. Led by their leader El-Ouali Mustapha Sayed, the Polisario forces aimed to overthrow the regime of President Moktar Ould Daddah.

First Nouackchott raid
Part of Western Sahara War

Nouakchott in 2017
Date8 June 1976[1]
Location
Nouakchott, Mauritania
Result

Mauritanian victory[2]

Belligerents
Polisario Front  Mauritania
Commanders and leaders
El-Ouali Mustapha Sayed  †

Mauritania Moktar Ould Daddah
Col. Ahmed Ould Bouceif[5]

Lt-Col. Mohammed Khouna Ould Heydallah[6]
Strength
+500 (severals hundred guerrillas) Mauritania +400 under Ahmed Oulf Bouceif
Casualties and losses
100-200 killed[7][8] 4 killed, +10 injured[9]

Prelude

In early June 1976, a force of several hundred Polisario guerrillas, led by El-Ouali Mustapha Sayed, embarked on a raid from their rear base in Tindouf, Algeria. The convoy consisted of approximately a hundred vehicles, including several Berliet-Algerian trucks loaded with ammunition, communication equipment, fuel, and supplies. They were equipped with heavy weaponry, such as 120mm mortars and 110mm recoilless Russian cannons. Surprisingly, there were also "anti-aircraft ramps," although these were not utilized during the raid.[10]

The main objective of the raid was to reach Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania, which had been left practically undefended as most of the country's armed forces were stationed far to the north. The Polisario forces planned to launch an attack on President Moktar Ould Daddah's residence.[11]

Initial skirmishes and raid

The Polisario convoy was spotted by a Mauritanian pilot on June 5, near the town of Zouérate, which led to the Mauritanian forces realizing the true objective of the Polisario's raid. Responding swiftly, Mauritanian forces, under the command of Lt.-Col. Ahmed Ould Bouceif, sent 400 troops to intercept the Polisario before they could reach Nouakchott. Despite Mauritanian efforts, the Polisario guerrillas reached the outskirts of the capital on June 8.[12]

On the morning of June 8, the Polisario forces managed to shell the grounds of President Ould Daddah's residence for approximately 30 minutes. However, due to the absence of the element of surprise and reinforced Mauritanian defenses, they had to retreat.[12]

Casualties and aftermath

The retreat of the Polisario forces was met with fierce resistance from the Mauritanian troops, particularly near the settlement of Bennichab on June 9. Hundreds of insurgents were killed in the ensuing battle. Notably, the raid resulted in the death of Polisario's Secretary-General, El Ouali, and his military deputy, about 100 kilometers north of Nouakchott. Polisario forces suffered over 200 casualties, and almost an equal number were taken as prisoners. On the Mauritanian side, four soldiers lost their lives, and around ten were injured during the raid.[10]

Notes and references
  1. Collectif (2013-05-21). Introduction à la Mauritanie (in French). Institut de recherches et d’études sur les mondes arabes et musulmans. ISBN 978-2-271-08123-0.
  2. "Exclu du " sommet " de Libreville le Polisario lance un nouveau raid sur Nouakchott". Le Monde.fr (in French). 1977-07-05. Retrieved 2023-07-17. Le repérage du convoi par pur hasard du Polisario par un avion mauritanien avait annulé l'effet de surprise et a entraîné l'échec du raid.
  3. The Montreal Gazette. The Montreal Gazette. Polisario leader dies in skirmish with Mauritania
  4. The Montreal Gazette. The Montreal Gazette. A Polisario communique issued in Algiers said its forces launched two attacks on Nouakchott but were pushed back bu Mauritanian troops.
  5. Pazzanita, Anthony G. (2008-10-23). Historical Dictionary of Mauritania. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-6265-4. Col. Ahmed Ould Bouceif, quickly dispatched 400 of his men to try to beat Polisario...
  6. Pazzanita, Anthony G. (2008-10-23). Historical Dictionary of Mauritania. Scarecrow Press. p. 373. ISBN 978-0-8108-6265-4. Lt.-Col. Mohammed Khouna Ould Heydallah [...] intended to relieve the Nouakchott raiders...
  7. Pazzanita, Anthony G. (2008-10-23). Historical Dictionary of Mauritania. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-6265-4. on 9 June, and hundreds of insurgents were kiled...
  8. "APRÈS LE RAID CONTRE NOUAKCHOTT Les dirigeants redoutent de nouvelles actions du Front Polisario". Le Monde.fr (in French). 1976-06-22. Retrieved 2023-07-17. Cette action s'est soldée pour le Polisario, dans les jours qui suivirent, par plus de deux cents morts et presque autant de prisonniers...
  9. "APRÈS LE RAID CONTRE NOUAKCHOTT Les dirigeants redoutent de nouvelles actions du Front Polisario". Le Monde.fr (in French). 1976-06-22. Retrieved 2023-07-17. De leur côté, les Mauritaniens ont eu quatre morts et une dizaine de blessés.
  10. "APRÈS LE RAID CONTRE NOUAKCHOTT Les dirigeants redoutent de nouvelles actions du Front Polisario". Le Monde.fr (in French). 1976-06-22. Retrieved 2023-07-17.
  11. "Exclu du " sommet " de Libreville le Polisario lance un nouveau raid sur Nouakchott". Le Monde.fr (in French). 1977-07-05. Retrieved 2023-07-17.
  12. Pazzanita, Anthony G. (2008-10-23). Historical Dictionary of Mauritania. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-6265-4.
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