| Term |
Incumbent |
Affiliation |
Notes |
| 28 November 1960 to 20 August 1961 |
Moktar Ould Daddah, acting Head of State |
PRM/PPM |
|
| 20 August 1961 to 10 July 1978 |
Moktar Ould Daddah, President |
|
| 10 July 1978 to 20 March 1979 |
Mustafa Ould Salek, Chairman of the Military Committee for National Recovery |
Mil |
|
| 20 March 1979 to 6 April 1979 |
Mustafa Ould Salek, Head of State and Chairman of the Military Committee for National Recovery |
|
| 6 April 1979 to 3 June 1979 |
Mustafa Ould Salek, Head of State and Chairman of the Military Committee for National Salvation |
Mil |
|
| 3 June 1979 to 4 January 1980 |
Mohamed Mahmoud Ould Louly, Head of State and Chairman of the Military Committee for National Salvation |
Mil |
|
| 4 January 1980 to 12 December 1984 |
Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla, Head of State and Chairman of the Military Committee for National Salvation |
Mil |
|
| 12 December 1984 to 18 April 1992 |
Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya, Head of State and Chairman of the Military Committee for National Salvation |
Mil |
|
| 18 April 1992 to 3 August 2005 |
Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya, President |
PRDS |
|
| 3 August 2005 to 19 April 2007 |
Ely Ould Mohamed Vall, Chairman of the Military Council for Justice and Democracy |
Mil |
|
| 19 April 2007 to 6 August 2008 |
Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi, President |
n-p |
|
| 6 August 2008 to present |
Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, President of the High Council of State |
Mil |
|
