WORLD NEWS: Boubacar Ould Messaoud, figure in the anti-slavery struggle in Mauritania, is dead

The founder of SOS Esclaves, who dedicated his life to eradicating slavery in Mauritania, passed away in Nouakchott.

Boubacar Ould Messaoud, a prominent Mauritanian human rights activist and the founder of SOS Esclaves, passed away on Thursday, March 12, at the age of 80 in Nouakchott. Messaoud dedicated much of his life to the fight against slavery, a practice officially abolished in Mauritania in 1981 but which continues to persist in various forms. His death marks the end of a tireless campaign for the rights of those marginalized and exploited by the remnants of slavery in his home country.

A Lifelong Fight Against Slavery

Messaoud founded the NGO SOS Esclaves in 1995, a group focused on eradicating slavery and supporting the reintegration of victims into society. Although the organization initially struggled to gain official recognition, it was granted legal status in 2005. His unwavering commitment to human rights extended beyond SOS Esclaves, as he was involved in several political groups, including El Hor, an anti-slavery movement he joined in 1975. Messaoud’s work shed light on the persistence of slavery in Mauritania, despite its official abolition more than four decades ago.

“His life’s work has been a beacon for those silenced by the chains of slavery, and his legacy will live on in the fight for justice,” said a spokesperson from SOS Esclaves following his death.

Messaoud was a vocal critic of the Mauritanian government, particularly during the regime of former President Maaouiya Ould Taya. His activism led to several arrests and restrictions on his rights, with the authorities frequently sidelining him for his political and anti-slavery stance. In 1991, he was dismissed from his role as general director of Socogim, the public housing company, largely because of his political views.

Recognition and Legacy

Despite the many challenges he faced, Messaoud’s contributions to human rights were widely recognized. In 2009, he was honored with the Anti-Slavery International Award, and in 2010, he received the Human Rights Prize of the French Republic. His commitment to justice was further acknowledged in 2023 when he was awarded the prestigious medal of Officer of National Merit.

Messaoud was born in 1945 in Rosso, a town located in the southern part of Mauritania. A trained architect, he was involved in designing several key buildings in the Mauritanian capital, Nouakchott. However, his most enduring legacy lies in his work to expose the ongoing practice of slavery in Mauritania, a country where more than 40 years after its official abolition, the government continues to deny its existence.

His funeral took place on Thursday, with a prayer at the Great Mosque of Nouakchott before he was buried in his hometown of Rosso, approximately 200 kilometers south of the capital.

Messaoud’s passing marks the end of a pivotal chapter in Mauritania’s fight for human rights, but his work remains a powerful symbol in the ongoing struggle against slavery in the country.