(Ecofin Agency) - In Mauritania, local anti-slavery Ngo, Initiative pour la Résurgence du mouvement Abolitionniste (IRA), declared in a statement relayed by the press on June 1 that land rights of village communities should not be trampled upon under the pretext of developing agro-industry.

The organisation, denouncing a land spoliation attempt explained that “the governor of Boghé, Abderahmane Ould Mahfoudh Ould Khatri, issued a decree establishing a committee in charge of listing beneficiaries of land plots in the framework of expansion of the Boghe area, which is goes over 2210ha. These lands where various projects are to be developed are a source of living for black village communities living around the plain. Against all logic, the State has simply decided, without concerting with the concerned populations, to award the plots to Arab-Berber agribusiness companies, ignoring secular rights of the rightful owners”.

In this context which might give rise to tensions, IRA urges in its declaration Mauritanian authorities “to take into consideration the land rights of village communities and give them priority when awarding lands”, if not, “they will be responsible for all the tensions resulting from the unfair distribution of lands”.

Souha Touré