Who are the Communities Discriminated on the Basis of Work and Descent (CDWD) in Africa, How These Discriminations Manifest, What the Main Challenges of the Haratine Community Are, and What African and National Responses Exist ?

For centuries, African populations have been confined to subordinate positions due to slavery or hereditary occupations. These discriminations, grouped under CDWD, still limit access to education, skilled employment, land, political participation, and economic opportunities. The ILO (2022) estimates 5.4 million people in sub-Saharan Africa live in modern slavery. The Haratine of Mauritania exemplify these persistent inequalities.

I. Who are the CDWD and How These Discriminations Manifest

1. Groups Affected by Discrimination Based on Descent and Work
Two main categories are concerned: slave descendants and hereditary artisanal castes.

A. Descendants of Slaves
In Mali and Niger, groups include the Woloso (Mandinka), Bellah/Iklan and Bouzou (Tuaregs), and Rimaïbé (Fula). Among Hausa and Zarma-Songhai, the Bayu and Dabay Banda persist as marginalized groups.
In Mauritania, the Haratine, Abid, and dependent freedmen are the most visible.
In Gambia, Komo descendants within the Soninké community face marriage restrictions, exclusion from leadership, and social stigma.

B. Artisanal and Professional Castes
Several groups historically assigned to crafts remain marginalized: Lemallemin and Igawen in Mauritania arabic community , Niakhamala among the Soninké, Ñeñbe among the Fulani , and Ñeño (Tëgg, Guéwël, Oudais) among the Wolof.

2. How These Discriminations Manifest
CDWD face social stigma, endogamy rules, and exclusion from decision-making. Economically, they remain confined to low-status jobs and have limited land access. Politically, representation is low. Education and access to civil registration remain limited. The ACHPR considers these practices serious human rights violations.

II. Main Challenges of the Haratine Community.

Representing 40–50% of Mauritania’s population (1.6–2 million people), Haratine continue to experience slavery-like practices and structural inequalities.
Economically, they dominate low-status jobs (sharecropping, manual labor, herding). Fewer than 10% own land; over 60% live in poverty (World Bank). About 90,000 still live in situations assimilated to modern slavery (Global Slavery Index).
Civically, 15–18% lack civil registration, reducing political participation.
Educationally, only 40% complete primary school ; fewer than 30% of girls reach secondary school. Adult literacy is ~55%.
Health access is 35% lower than dominant groups (WHO, 2022). Many live in marginalized or isolated areas.

Judicially, fewer than 3% of slavery-related complaints reach courts; activists face intimidation (HRW 2022).
Access to skilled employment is below 10%, with widespread informal work and limited training. Territorial segregation reinforces exclusion.

III. African and National Responses

1. African Responses

The African Charter (1981) prohibits discrimination based on origin. The 1999 ACHPR Declaration calls for the criminalization of slavery. Resolution 69/2003 urges states to outlaw hereditary labor. Resolution 619 (2023) explicitly recognizes CDWD and recommends criminalization, data collection, victim protection, and reparative policies.

2. National Responses of Mauritania
Mauritania adopted several laws:

– Law 2007-048 criminalizes slavery and trafficking.
– Law 2015-031 classifies slavery as a crime against humanity and creates specialized courts (Nema, Nouakchott, Nouadhibou).

– Law 039/2024 establishes a Specialized Criminal Court for slavery and trafficking.

– NGOs such as SOS-Esclaves, IRA-Mauritania, and Anti-Slavery International document cases and support victims despite risks.

Recommendations

Strengthen implementation of Law 039/2024.

Apply ACHPR Resolution 619.

Conduct a disaggregated census of Haratine and all CDWD.

Ensure inclusive education.

Guarantee universal civil registration.

Increase CDWD representation in public institutions.

Expand land access and economic opportunities.

Promote awareness campaigns against stigma.

Ensure monitoring and evaluation of public policies.

Protect activists and support abolitionist NGOs.

Conclusion

CDWD in Africa and Haratine in Mauritania still face inequalities rooted in slavery and caste systems. Despite strong legal frameworks of the ACHPR Resolution 619 and Mauritanian Laws 2007-048, 2015-031, and 039/2024 implementation remains limited. Progress demands targeted policies, better protection of activists, improved access to education, civil registration, and representation to build a fairer society.

References
ILO (2022) – https://www.ilo.org/global/publications/books/WCMS_854733/lang–en/index.htm
ACHPR – https://achpr.au.int
Global Slavery Index (2018) – https://www.globalslaveryindex.org/2018/data/maps/#prevalence
World Bank – https://povertydata.worldbank.org
Human Rights Watch (2022) – https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2022/country-chapters/mauritania
ANSADE (2023) – http://www.ansade.mr
Anti-Slavery International – https://www.antislavery.org/what-we-do/our-work-in-mauritania/
WHO (2022) – https://www.who.int/countries/mrt
UNDP Mauritania – https://www.mr.undp.org
Refworld, Law 2015-031 – https://www.refworld.org/docid/5734975a4.html
CRIDEM, Law 039/2024 – https://www.cridem.org
African Charter (1981) – https://au.int/en/treaties/african-charter-human-and-peoples-rights
ACHPR Resolution 619 (2023) – https://achpr.au.int/en/adopted-resolutions/619-resolution-ending-discrimination-based-work-descent-and