In Mauritania, military leaders have overthrown the elected government in a bloodless coup. The coup leaders say they’re removing President Sidi Abdellah because of government corruption and ineptitude in handling rising food prices. State Department spokesperson Gonzo Gallegos condemned the coup.

Gonzo Gallegos: “We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the Mauritanians’ military’s overthrow of the democratically elected government of Mauritania. We oppose any attempts by military elements to change governments through extraconstitutional means. We call on the military to release the president and the prime minister and to restore the legitimate, constitutional, democratically elected government immediately.”

The coup leaders replace Mauritania’s first elected government in nearly twenty years.