FAL ADDRESSES SLAVERY ISSUE

C O N F I D E N T I A L NOUAKCHOTT 000664

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/31/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PINR EAID KPAO MR
SUBJECT: FAL ADDRESSES SLAVERY ISSUE

REF: NOUAKCHOTT 605

Classified By: Amb. Joseph LeBaron, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)

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(U) Key Points
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-- During a speech in the northern city of Akjoujt May 27,
Col Fal said that he was "the first member of all
anti-slavery movements" in Mauritania and he encouraged all
Mauritanians to join him in "ending these types of ideas and
behaviors."

-- The Taya government had previously stated that slavery,
which was officially outlawed in 1981, no longer existed in
Mauritania.

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(C) Comments
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-- While Fal's comment was not an outright acknowledgement of
the existence of slavery (as reported by several
international media outlets, including Fox News),his speech
marks a significant step forward in publicly addressing the
highly-sensitive issue.

-- Fal continues to break new ground in addressing some of
Mauritania's most sensitive issues, including refugees and
past human rights abuses (reftel). These positive steps are
encouraging national dialogue on these former taboos.

End Key Points and Comments.


1. (U) Fal spoke to a crowd of several thousand in the
northern city of Akjoujt May 27 as part of a national
presidential tour that began April 28. Fal's speech focused
on getting-out-the-vote for the National Constitutional
Referendum scheduled for June 25. At the end of his speech,
Fal commented on a banner which read "yes for the abolition
of slavery."


2. (U) After reading the text of the banner aloud, Fal said
"Yes, and I repeat, yes for the abolition of slavery in all
its forms." "Moreover, I say that I am the first member of
all anti-slavery movements and I call on all three million
Mauritanian people to join me," he said, adding that all
forms of slavery should be confronted, including "slavery of
the mind...and slavery in behavior."


3. (C) Boubacar Messaoud, president of the leading Mauritania
anti-slavery NGO, SOS Esclaves, told Poloff that "Fal's
statement is an important step in addressing this
problem...that continues despite the legal abolition of
slavery 25 years ago." He added that Fal now needed to "take
steps to address the problem," saying that "words need to be
followed by actions."


4. (C) Messaoud said that he had seen "progress" on the
slavery issue under the Fal government, but said "so much
remains to be done." He said he was hopeful that Fal's words
would promote further dialogue, but ultimately he believed
"it will be a long time before this issue is resolved."


5. (U) In June 1994, Amnesty International claimed that
approximately 90,000 Mauritanians lived as "the property" of
slaveholders, and that as many as 300,000 former slaves
continued to serve their former masters because of
psychological or economic dependence.
LeBaron