Born at Hodh El Gharbi, Lemine graduated from the University of Cairo with a diploma in economics and has worked as a professor at the University of Nouakchott. He served as Minister of Defence under Prime Minister's Zeine Ould Zeidane and Yahya Ould Ahmed El Waghef until the August 2008 coup which overthrew President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi and created a new government with Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf as Prime Minister.