Mauritania Human Rights

Human Rights Concerns

Amnesty International is pleased with the recent legalization of several human rights organizations. Amnesty International hopes that Mauritania’s new government will work to address past human rights abuses, including unfair trials, unjustified imprisonment, forced labor and slavery.

Following a military coup in August 2005 that non-violently deposed Mauritania’s longtime President Maaouiya Ould Sid ‘Ahmed Taya, the human rights situation there has improved with the release of many political prisoners. The coup leaders claim that they will not participate in any future government. Elections are scheduled for 2007.

Mauritania ranks among the world’s thirty poorest countries. Mauritania continues to participate in the United States’ War on Terror operations in the Sahara-Sahel Region, including the $500 million Trans-Saharan Counter Terrorism Initiative (TSCTI) that aims to make the region more secure. Critics charge that the TSCTI will do more harm than good. Mauritania will begin offshore oil extraction this year and has the potential to become a major producer in West Africa.

UPDATE: Good news for human rights defenders
in Mauritania

Several Mauritanian non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including SOS Esclaves, and Association Mauritanienne des Droits de l’Homme (AMDH), were officially legalized by the authorities in June. Although recognized by international human rights bodies, including the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, these and several other organizations remained illegal for years according to Mauritanian law and have operated with great difficulty in Mauritania. Learn more. »

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