In the eastern suburb of Alak city, the capital of Braknah in the center of Mauritania, over 300 families decided to set up clandestine camp when they left their homes in the inland areas due to the severe drought that hit the majority of the country in summer 2012.This natural disaster led to the death of livestock that constitutes the main source of sustenance for the villagers in the different eastern and southerngovernorates of Mauritania.

Even though more than thirty years have gone by since the State of Mauritania officially abolished the slavery legitimacy witnessed by the traditional society due to internal tribal wars, this issue is still strongly set on the table and this phenomenon has become an embarrassing issue for the Civil State in international events.

The Mauritanian Mahadhra, formerly known as the universities of the desert, defined also as traditional Quranic schools, are suspected of fuelling radical and extremist groups, regionally and internationally.

Widespread in North and West Africa, the Tijaniyya throws bridges between Maghreb and sub-Saharan peoples. But, as other Sufi brotherhoods it is loathed by Salafi extremists.

In 2014, Mauritania restricted teaching posts to Mauritanians. The measure notifies that employment in education can be access by Mauritanians only. The measure is received as punishment by many migrants active as teachers.

While they are well known and mediatised among Moors, the consequences of slavery have all the time existed in various Mauritanian communities (Moors, Halpulaar, Soninke, and Wolof). In the Soninke milieu, they are masked, even disguised. Ambitions of slave descendants are met with the reluctance from traditional chiefs, religious leaders often conniving with political elite; all are as many levers of feudalism.

Mauritania adopted a year ago a road map to put to an end the consequences of slavery. The road map is to be implemented together with the United Nations and the involvement of the civil society. However, victims are still suffering from their ordeal. Specifically those who thanks to the anti-slavery organisations, have been freed recently.