In December 1984, Haidallah was deposed by Colonel Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya, who, while

retaining tight military control, relaxed the political climate. Ould Taya moderated Mauritania's previous
pro-Algerian stance, and re-established ties with Morocco during the late 1980s. He deepened these ties
during the late 1990s and early 2000s as part of Mauritania's drive to attract support from Western
states and Western-aligned Arab states. Mauritania has not rescinded its recognition of Polisario's
Western Saharan exile government, and remains on good terms with Algeria. Its position on the
Western Sahara conflict is, since the 1980s, one of strict neutrality.