A cooperation is started with the Ba'th party of Iraq . Severe drought over Mauritania, which forces many people to move into the larger cities. Sharia becomes the law in all fields, except banking and insurance. Connections with the Ba'th party are closed. Ould Taya has himself appointed president.
More emphasis is put on fishing and agriculture.
He also starts campaigns to crack down on corruption and profiteering in the Mauritanian society. The government's response was to arrest 30 FLAM members. Racial tensions in Nouakchott, followed by dismissals of about 500 black officers from the army, as well as killings of both blacks and Arabs. Tensions between Mauritania and Senegal grows into near-war situation. Everything had started with small everyday conflicts between Mauritanians and Senegalese, which were followed by killings of Senegalese performed by Mauritanian border guards.