Biram Dah Abeid
Biram Ould Dah Ould Abeid | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 12, 1965 Jidr el-Mouhguen, near Rosso, Trarza, Mauritania |
| Occupation(s) | Politician, human rights activist |
| Known for | Anti-slavery activism in Mauritania |
Biram Ould Dah Ould Abeid (; born 12 January 1965) is a prominent Mauritanian political figure and a dedicated campaigner for the eradication of slavery.[1] In 2017, he was recognized by Time magazine as one of the "100 Most Influential People"Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name and earned the nickname "Mauritanian Nelson Mandela" from Middle East Eye.[2]
As a key figure in the global anti-slavery movement, Abeid has endured numerous arrests and detentions imposed by Mauritanian authorities. His situation has garnered support from notable advocates such as Irwin Cotler and the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Early life
Born in 1965 in Jidr el-Mouhguen, near Rosso, Trarza, Biram Ould Dah Ould Abeid attended secondary school in Rosso starting in 1979. During this period, he observed firsthand the entrenched social disparities and caste system that marginalized black populations by limiting their educational and employment opportunities.
At age 19, Abeid established the National African Movement aimed at fighting discrimination, frequently addressing open letters to the Secretary of State. Financial difficulties forced him to pause his studies at 28, prompting his involvement in local elections. Subsequently, he completed a master's degree in history and pursued legal training in both Mauritania and Senegal.
Life as an activist and politician
In 2007, former presidential hopeful Zeine Ould Zeidane invited Abeid to participate in his political platform focused on abolishing slavery and combating discrimination. That same year, following a hunger strike alongside three fellow activists, Mauritanian officials detained three women accused of enslaving children—the first such prosecutions since slavery became illegal that year.
The following year, Abeid launched the Initiative for the Resurgence of the Abolitionist Movement (IRA-Mauritania), assuming leadership as president of this grassroots organization. His efforts concentrate on educating enslaved individuals isolated by illiteracy, poverty, and geographic remoteness, confronting not only economic dependencies but also religious justifications used to uphold slavery.
Abeid draws attention to an informal alliance comprising Beydanes (the slave-owning caste), government officials, law enforcement, judiciary members, and religious leaders who collectively hinder slaves from escaping servitude. In 2010, his relentless activism led to his dismissal from the position of Senior Adviser at the National Commission for Human Rights and threats of legal action if he persisted.
In December 2010, during protests demanding freedom for enslaved girls, Abeid was arrested and subjected to torture. The following month, he received a twelve-month prison sentence but was later granted a pardon by President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz. In August 2011, police violently broke up an IRA demonstration against unlawful child labor practices; Abeid and other activists required hospitalization due to injuries sustained.
April 2012 saw accusations against Abeid's organization for allegedly burning early Islamic legal manuscripts that permitted slavery. This sparked intensified government hostility including death threats and communication blackouts targeting IRA members. After prolonged detention and multiple postponed trials, international advocacy secured their release on bail in September.
In May 2013, Abeid was honored with the Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk, followed by receiving the United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights in December that year. He challenged incumbent Abdel Aziz in the 2014 presidential election but did not succeed.
Later that year in November 2014, Abeid alongside IRA members were arrested while protesting the dismissal of charges against a slave owner accused of raping a 15-year-old enslaved girl. In January 2015, he was sentenced to two years imprisonment; an appeal was denied in August.
On 17 May 2016, the Supreme Court ordered his release along with fellow activist Brahim Bilal Ramdhan. However, in August 2018 Abeid was once again incarcerated—widely interpreted as an attempt to prevent his participation in September’s parliamentary elections. Despite incarceration, he secured a parliamentary seat from prison and publicly opposed ongoing systemic slavery and corruption. He ran again for president in June 2019, achieving 18.58% of votes—trailing Mohamed Ould Ghazouani (52.01%) but surpassing Sidi Mohamed Ould Boubacar (17.87%).
Awards and recognition
- 2013 – Front Line Defenders' award honoring Human Rights Defenders at Risk
- 2013 – United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights
- 2017 – Prix Mémoires partagées presented by Mémoires et Partages
- 2019 – Honorary doctorate conferred by the University of Leuven (KU Leuven)
Electoral history
| Election | Political List | Constituency | Votes Received | Percentage | Ranking | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 Mauritanian presidential election | RAG | Template:N/A | 61,218 | 8.67% | 2nd (among 5 candidates) | Defeated |
| 2018 Mauritanian parliamentary election | Sawab–RAG | National list | 12,265 | 1.75% | 11th (out of 97) | Template:Won |
| 2019 Mauritanian presidential election | Sawab–RAG | Template:N/A | 172,649 | 18.59% | 2nd (from 6 contenders) | Defeated |
| 2023 Mauritanian parliamentary election | Sawab–RAG | National list | 39,807 | 4.10% | 4th (among 25) | Template:Won |
| 2024 Mauritanian presidential election | Sawab–RAG | Template:N/A | 218,427 | 22.10% | 2nd (out of 7 candidates) | Defeated |