The fight against slavery is progressing in Mauritania where this practice is treated as a crime against humanity in the Constitution. This is the observation made by the United Nations special rapporteur in charge of modern forms of slavery, Tomoya Obokata, who has just ended, Friday, May 13, a ten-day mission in Mauritania. But the picture must be nuanced.
During his stay, Tomoya Obokata met the authorities and anti-slavery associations. At the end of his mission, he said that even if the country is making progress in the way, slavery still persists in Mauritania. He takes stock of his mission at the microphone of our correspondent in Nouakchott, Salem Mejbour Salem.
” My mission to Mauritania was to assess the implementation of the national plan to combat slavery and related practices implemented for years in Mauritania. My first observation, at the end of the mission, is that slavery, servitude and child labor still persist in the country. The situation requires a solid and sincere commitment from everyone: the government, civil society and Mauritania’s partners to eradicate the phenomenon of slavery. These practices are now recognized by the authorities. The president of Mauritania that I met recognizes the existence of slavery. This is a positive point.
In 2015, a law criminalizing slavery practices was passed by Parliament and specialized courts have been created. But these courts have not been provided with sufficient financial means for proper functioning. »
Read also: Law against slavery in Mauritania: a double discourse?
Looking forward to concrete progress
The NGO SOS slavery says it is rather satisfied. Reached by Lisa Morisseau of the Africa editorial team, El Kory Sneiba, spokesperson for the association, considers the visit of the United Nations special rapporteur to be a very important fact, even if he has some reservations.
“ In Mauritania, there are still traditional forms of slavery and we call on Mauritania to officially recognize the existence of slavery because here, the most despicable practices still exist, slavery and in particular slavery by ascending where men and women are born slaves, from father to son. We were able to discuss with the UN official who was attentive to our demands, to our analysis of the situation of slavery in Mauritania and we were able to discuss the whole issue. Now we wait to see. »
Read also: Mauritania: cases of slavery in the black Soninke community