Zeine Ould Zeidane (; born 1966)"Le nouveau Premier ministre prend fonction", Agence Mauritanienne d'Information, April 21, 2007 . is a Mauritanian economist and politician. He placed third as a candidate in the March 2007 presidential election, and he subsequently served as Prime Minister from April 2007 to May 2008.
Biography Born in Tamchekett, Zeine studied in Nouakchott, then at the University of Nice, in France. He taught briefly at the University of Nice before returning to Mauritania, where he taught at the University of Nouakchott before entering banking."Zeine Ould Zeidane veut troquer le fauteuil de la Banque centrale contre celui du Palais présidentiel", African Press Agency, February 24, 2007 .
In 2000, he was posted to the World Bank, while he later served as economic Counsel to the President of Mauritania, Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya. On June 26, 2004, he was appointed by Maaouya as Governor of the Central Bank of Mauritania."Nomination d'un nouveau gouverneur de la Banque Centrale de Mauritanie", AMI, June 26, 2004 . He was virtually the only minister to maintain his post following the coup of August 2005,Zeine Ould Zeidane, BBCAfrique.com . leaving the position in September 2006 because of his presidential candidacy.
Zeine announced his candidacy on December 18, 2006."M. Zein Ould Zeidane annonce sa candidature aux élections présidentielles", Agence Mauritanienne d'Information, December 18, 2006 . In the presidential election, which was held on March 11, 2007, he was the youngest candidate, standing as an independent. He took third place in the election with 15.28% of the votes cast."Le conseil constitutionnel proclame les résultats du premier tour de l'élection présidentielles du 11 mars 2007", Agence Mauritanienne d'Information, March 15, 2007 . In the election, Zeine was considered by some to be the candidate favored by exiled former President Maaouya. On March 17, Zeine announced his support for Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi in the second round of the election.Ibrahima Sylla, "Abdallahi receives boost ahead of polls", Reuters (IOL), March 19, 2007.
Sidi won the second round, held on March 25, and on April 20, one day after he took office as President, he appointed Zeine as Prime Minister."Mauritanie: Zeine Ould Zeidane nommé Premier ministre", AFP (Jeuneafrique.com), April 20, 2007 . Zeine took office on April 21. Zeine's new Government was named on April 28; it included 28 members"New Mauritania govt forms first post-transition cabinet", African Press Agency, April 28, 2007. and was composed of technocrats who were largely considered obscure figures. Three of the ministers appointed were members of the People's Progressive Alliance (led by Messaoud Ould Boulkheir, another presidential candidate who backed Sidi in the second round)."Mauritanie: formation d'un nouveau gouvernement", AFP (Jeuneafrique.com), April 28, 2007 .
Zeine presented the resignation of his government on May 6, 2008; Sidi accepted the resignation,"Le Premier ministre Zeine ould Zeidane présente la démission du gouvernement", AMI, May 6, 2008 . and appointed Yahya Ould Ahmed El Waghef to succeed him on the same day."Mauritanie: démission du Premier ministre Zeine Ould Zeidane", AFP (Jeuneafrique.com), May 6, 2008 ."Mauritania: Ould Ahmed El Waghev becomes new Premier" , African Press Agency, May 6, 2008.
References
External links Official 2007 campaign website