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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) 
 
-------------- 
(U) Key Points 
-------------- 
 
-- 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. 
 
------------ 
(C) Comments 
------------ 
 
-- 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