The South African government has joined the international community in condemning the military coup in Mauritania.
Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa said South Africa noted the military coup with serious concern.
“South Africa has never countenanced the use of military coups to settle political issues and joins the entire international community in expressing its outright and unequivocal condemnation of such unconstitutional transfer of power.
“South Africa, like the rest of humanity, calls for an immediate return to democracy and the rule of law,” he said, adding that the department would monitor the situation closely.
Mauritanian President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi was arrested by a military commando on Wednesday, shortly after his ouster.
Troops in the West African nation also arrested Prime Minister Yahya Ould Ahmed Waghf.
The coup was the culmination of the political crisis which has embroiled Mauritania, triggered by allegations of corruption and bad governance against President Abdallahi.
A vote of confidence in the government recently forced a cabinet change, while many ruling party MPs also left the party as the crisis worsened.
The African Union and regional power Nigeria have also condemned the coup, with Nigeria vowing never to recognise the new military government because it came to power through unconstitutional means. Panapress .
