authors: Antonia Davila and Timothy Homsy Mauritania, situated on the Atlantic coast of Africa, connects sub-Saharan Africa with the North African Maghreb region. A large portion of its land is in the Sahara desert. The nation possesses significant mineral wealth, including iron ore, copper, gypsum, and oil. Formerly a French colony, Mauritania gained independence on November 28th 1960. This country has a population of approximately 4.3 million people. Three main ethnic groups make up Mauritania’s population: the Bidhan, the Haratin, and the West Africans.
Slavery and Race Slavery in Mauritania is described as deeply ingrained within its societal structure and closely linked to the country’s ethnic composition. The legacy of slavery persists through generations. The descendants of Black Africans taken prisoner during historical raids are known as Haratin (Black Moors). Many Haratin still serve as slaves to the Beydan (also known as the White Moors). While slavery also exists among Sub-Saharan Mauritanians, it’s reported to be more widespread in the southern part of the country. Today, between 10 and 20% of the Mauritanian population is enslaved and subjected to horrible life conditions. The most common type of slavery is chattel slavery, in which slaves and their offspring are regarded as the masters’ property and can be purchased, sold, rented, or given as gifts. Women are disproportionately impacted, frequently restricted to household duties, and often the targets of sexual assault. Matrilineal in nature, slaves live in substandard conditions while working for the same households as their mothers and grandmothers. Slavery, Politics and Law In 1981, Mauritania abolished slavery, becoming the last country in the world to do so. Sadly, this practice has persisted, making slavery more prevalent in Mauritania than any other country globally. For this reason, in 2007, the state passed its first law criminalizing slavery with a five to ten years’ imprisonment sentence and a fine. Again, in 2015, Mauritania classified slavery as a crime against humanity, and increased the prison sentence to ten to twenty years. The different laws are generally not enforced by state authorities. These responsible authorities have failed to protect their vulnerable populations. In fact, the police tend to be inactive when it comes to identifying victims, as they prefer not to get involved. In most cases, human rights groups will undertake that role and inform administrative authorities about the abuse, but police officers often do not investigate unless there is sustained pressure for them to do something. In a November 2007 case concerning a woman and her two children, police officers threatened the victims into withdrawing her allegations against her “owner”. From the few reported cases that exist, many are closed without any substantial investigation and an unwillingness by the state to prosecute the accused. Unfortunately, there is only one reported case from November 2011 where a slave owner, Ahmed Ould Hassine, was prosecuted and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment and ordered to pay a fine. The two year sentence was well below the minimum sentence provided for by the law, and the accused got out on bail less than four months after his incarceration. Anti-Slavery Groups In Mauritania, a number of organizations are actively working to end slavery. The Initiative for the Resurgence of the Abolitionist Movement (IRA) is a group that opposes slavery relentlessly with the goal of changing government policies and promoting justice and freedom for people who are impacted. Furthermore, groups like Anti-Slavery International (ASI), Minority Rights Group (MRG), and SOS-Esclaves have played a critical role in strategic litigation and legal activism against slavery. Recognising the difficulties encountered even after freedom, such as the absence of official documents, ASI works with its local partner SOS-Esclaves to provide essential financial help, shelter, and basic education training in order to facilitate persons' escape from slavery. These organizations work together to free Mauritanians from the bonds of slavery and bring forth a future of liberty and dignity Conclusion Mauritania does not put enough measures to stop the slave trade, and they also indirectly allow this very lucrative practice for the country by not enforcing the state laws. In theory, the laws against slavery are good, though there’s always place for progress. In practice though, the laws are not applied and are only there so that Mauritania can keep its international reputation. This has all resulted in a huge humanitarian crisis who’s been long forgotten by the international community. It is by raising awareness on such issues that we can tackle them together. Sources: https://minorityrights.org/app/uploads/2024/01/mrg-rep-maur2-nov15-eng-2.pdf https://www.arab-reform.net/publication/ending-hereditary-slavery-in-mauritania-bidan-whites-and-black-slaves-in-2021/ https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2012/03/world/mauritania.slaverys.last.stronghold/index.html https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/jun/08/the-unspeakable-truth-about-slavery-in-mauritania https://www.academia.edu/86600229/IRA_Mauritanie_Legacy_and_Innovation_in_the_Anti_slavery_Fight_in_Mauritania https://www.antislavery.org/what-we-do/mauritania/ https://www.britannica.com/place/Mauritania/Plant-and-animal-life https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2012/03/world/mauritania.slaverys.last.stronghold/index.html
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March 2024
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