Slavery in Mauritania is an entrenched phenomenon the national government has repeatedly tried to abolish, banning the practice in 1905, 1981, and August 2007.12 The descendants of black Africans abducted into slavery now live in Mauritania as "black Moors" or haratin and partially still serve the "white Moors", or bidhan, as slaves.
The number of slaves in the country was not known exactly, but is was estimated to be up to 600,000 men, women and children, or 20% of the population 34. Kevin Bales believes that the percentage of slaves was the highest in the world.
Mauritanian organizations like El Hor (translated as "free man" or "freedom") and SOS Esclaves (meaning "SOS Slaves" in French) work against slavery.
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