Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi

Abdallahi, Sidi Ould Cheikh (sē'dē ūld shāk äbdəlä'ē), 1937-, Mauritanian political leader, president of Mauritania (2007-8), b. Aleg. Trained as an economist in Senegal and France, he returned to Mauritania in 1968. Abdallahi held several cabinet posts in the Mauritanian government (1971-78, 1986-87), and also worked as an economic adviser to the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, both in Kuwait (1982-85) and in Niger (1989-2003). He ran as an independent in 2007 but was supported by former government parties and was regarded as the military's candidate; Abdallahi won the presidency after a runoff election. He was overthrown in Aug., 2008, after rising food prices, his government's overtures to Islamists, and other issues cost him legislative and military support. A negotiated agreement led in June 2009 to power-sharing government that was appointed by Abdallahi, who then resigned as president.