Two Mauritania MPs Jailed for Four Years After Accusing President of Racial Discrimination

Two female opposition lawmakers in Mauritania have been sentenced to four years in prison after being convicted of insulting the president and making claims of racial discrimination against Black citizens and descendants of slaves, their lawyers said Monday.

Mariem Cheikh and Ghamou Achour, both members of the human rights coalition Initiative for the Resurgence of the Abolitionist Movement, were found guilty by a criminal court in the capital Nouakchott of ‘attacking the symbols of the state’ and ‘calling for gatherings with a view to undermine public security.’

Social Media Posts Sparked Prosecution

The two lawmakers had posted several messages on social media platform X describing President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani as the mentor of ‘apartheid in Mauritania.’ They also called for Ghazouani’s removal and accused the Arab-dominated justice system of treating Black citizens as second-class citizens.

In its verdict late Monday, the court also ordered the removal of the digital content, the confiscation of their phones, and the closure of their online accounts. The government has not commented on the ruling.

The two women’s attorneys — Mohamed Ould Ahmed Miske, Yaghoub Ould Sèïf, and Moctar Ould Ely — confirmed the outcome of the trial, which drew condemnation from human rights organizations.

Long Shadow of Slavery

Mauritania, a West African nation of less than 5 million people, has long faced international criticism over its human rights record. The country outlawed slavery in 1981, becoming the last nation in the world to do so, but activists say the practice continues through other forms of oppression and discrimination.

According to the 2023 Global Slavery Index, around 149,000 people remain in conditions of modern slavery in Mauritania, where the economic and political elite have historically been dominated by Arab and Amazigh communities.

Biram Dah Abeid, leader of the Initiative for the Resurgence of the Abolitionist Movement coalition, condemned the trial as politically motivated, describing the two lawmakers as ‘heroes’ and ‘sincere fighters against injustice’ at a news conference following the verdict.

The coalition is not a registered political party but allied with the Sawab party to help its members secure parliamentary seats. Both women were elected as independent candidates affiliated with the abolitionist movement.

International Concerns

The case has drawn attention from human rights groups who argue that the charges reflect a broader pattern of repression against dissenting voices in Mauritania. Amnesty International has previously documented cases of activists and journalists targeted for speaking out on issues of racial discrimination and slavery.

The conviction comes as Mauritania navigates complex geopolitical pressures, including a controversial migration deal with the European Union that has seen the West African nation host thousands of migrants awaiting repatriation. Human rights organizations have accused European authorities of turning a blind eye to abuses linked to the arrangement.

Ghazouani, who was elected in 2019 and re-elected in 2024 in a vote opposition parties said was flawed, has yet to address the verdict publicly. His government has repeatedly denied accusations of systematic discrimination while emphasizing Mauritania’s efforts to modernize its legal and institutional frameworks.