Warda Ahmed Souleimane
Warda Ahmed Souleimane is a woman human rights defender, prominent anti-slavery activist, social media blogger and member of IRA-Mauritania, a human rights organisation that campaigns against slavery, racial discrimination, and social exclusion. The organisation advocates for equality and the eradication of practices that perpetuate caste-based and racial hierarchies in Mauritanian society.
HRDs face a hostile environment in Mauritania. The authorities have enforced repressive laws to prohibit peaceful protests, routinely use excessive force against demonstrators, ban critical human rights organizations and interfere with and obstruct their activities. HRDs are subjected to arbitrary arrest and ill-treatment, and are victims of smear campaigns, intimidation and death threats. Freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly are restricted.
In 2019, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani assumed the presidency, taking over from former President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz but this has not led to any improvement in the environment for HRDs On 23 June 2019, protests broke out after the new president’s declaration of victory based on partial results. Police arrested around 100 people and accused them of destabilizing the country, and enforced a two week internet shutdown.
