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The former slave Haby Mint Rabah presents himself in Mauritania to fight for freedom
31 Jul 2018 – 20:33
Mauritanians Slaves walk in a suburb outside the Mauritanian capital Nouakchott (Reuters / Rafael Marchante)
DAKAR: Born in slavery and served for 30 years, Haby Mint Rabah goes to the parliament in Mauritania to fight for freedom in a nation Rabah's candidacy is a first for the country of West Africa, where more than two out of 100 people – 90 000 in total – live like slaves, according to the Global Slavery Index of 2018
. Slavery is a historical practice in Mauritania, which became the last country to abolish it in 1981. Black descendants of southern ethnic groups are generally enslaved by Mauritanians with lighter skin – often as drovers and servants.
was born in bondage and was forced to work from 5 years as a maid and hand. She hopes to be a model and show that freedom – and a life after slavery – are possible.
"I submitted my candidacy because I was a slave, like my parents and parents of my parents before me," she said. Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone from the capital, Nouakchott
"And I've never seen a slave candidate in elections."
Mauritania criminalized slavery in 2007, but few slave owners were penalized. Some members of the political elite deny that slavery still exists and several activists who have spoken against him have been arrested and even jailed.
The Mauritanian government repeatedly denied the rights groups' activities or arbitrary arrests. The day I will be in parliament, I will defend the slaves … because I know that they exist and that they have many needs, "Rabah said." I will be there for them. "[19659006] Rabah will stand in the elections on 1 September as a member of the Mauritanian Rally for Global Action, the political wing of the Initiative for the Resurgence of the Abolitionist Movement (IRA), in coalition with The Sawab Party Plus Established.
Rabah was released in 2008 with the help of IRA after one of his brothers escaped and alerted the anti-terrorist group. slavery.
As a slave, her chores included water and animal husbandry. "I suffered all kinds of mistreatment," she added.
. do not tend to run away because they ignore their rights and can not envision a life beyond. Slavery, says Boubacar Messaoud of the group SOS Esclaves Rights.
"(Rabah's candidacy) is something that should encourage slaves to lift their heads … to see that when one is free, one always has access to others had," said Messaoud, the president of SOS slaves.
(Report by Nellie Peyton, edited by Kieran Guilbert)
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