Slavery in Mauritania
Legal Status and Current Situation
Overview
Mauritania, a country in Northwest Africa, has a complex history with slavery that continues to impact its society today. Despite official abolition, the practice persists in various forms due to deep-rooted social structures and weak enforcement of anti-slavery laws.
Official Abolition
Slavery was officially abolished in 1981, making Mauritania the last country in the world to do so.
Criminalization
Slavery was criminalized in 2007 with penalties of up to 10 years in prison.
Ongoing Practice
Despite being illegal, slavery continues to affect an estimated 90,000 people (2.1% of the population).
Legal Status
On Paper
Slavery is illegal and classified as a crime against humanity since 2015
Enforcement
Extremely weak with very few prosecutions despite widespread practice
In Practice
Slavery continues through descent-based servitude and forced labor
The 2015 law strengthened previous legislation by increasing penalties to 10-20 years imprisonment and establishing specialized tribunals to handle slavery cases. However, enforcement remains inconsistent and often ineffective.
Historical Timeline
France abolished slavery in Mauritania during colonial rule, but enforcement was weak.
Mauritania's military government officially abolished slavery by decree.
First law criminalizing slavery was passed, with penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment.
Strengthened anti-slavery law passed, classifying slavery as a crime against humanity and doubling penalties.
Specialized court established to handle cases of slavery, human trafficking, and migrant smuggling.
Current Situation
Forms of Slavery
Mauritania primarily experiences descent-based chattel slavery, where people are born into slavery and owned by masters. This includes:
- Domestic servitude
- Agricultural labor
- Animal herding
- Sexual exploitation
- Forced child labor
Social Structure
Slavery is deeply entrenched in caste and tribal hierarchies. The Haratine (Black Moors) have historically been enslaved by the Bidan (White Moors). Misinterpretations of Islam and traditional kinship relationships perpetuate the system.
"The government denies the existence of slavery, claiming it was 'totally finished,' but international organizations and local activists continue to document widespread cases of slavery and slave-like conditions."
Enforcement Challenges
Key reasons for poor enforcement include:
- Judiciary and law enforcement dominated by slave-owning elite
- Corruption and refusal to investigate cases
- Pressure on victims to withdraw complaints
- Lack of resources for anti-slavery initiatives
- Social acceptance of slavery in some communities
International Response
The United Nations has repeatedly criticized Mauritania for failing to eradicate slavery. NGOs like SOS-Esclaves and Free the Slaves work to support victims and pursue legal action.
International pressure has led to some reforms, including the establishment of specialized courts and increased penalties. However, many argue that legal changes alone are insufficient without addressing the underlying social and economic factors.
"The Global Slavery Index (2018) estimated 90,000 enslaved people in Mauritania, though other sources suggest numbers as high as 500,000 when including 'slave-like conditions'."
Sources
- Global Slavery Index (2018)
- Anti-Slavery International reports
- United Nations Human Rights Council assessments
- SOS-Esclaves documentation
- Academic research on slavery in Northwest Africa
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