Boubacar Ould Messaoud

Boubacar Ould Messaoud (15 May 1945 – 12 March 2026) was a Mauritanian human rights activist. He fought against slavery in Mauritania.[1]

Messaoud was born on 15 May 1945 in Rosso, Mauritania.[2] In 1995, he founded SOS Esclaves to fight against and to wipe out slavery from his country.[3] In 1981, slavery was officially abolished but it continued in many forms for many more years.[4]

Messaoud died at his home in Nouakchott, Mauritania, on 12 March 2026, at the age of 80.[2][4]

Awards

In 2009, Anti-Slavery International bestowed its Anti-Slavery Award on SOS Esclaves, and Messaoud received the award on his organization's behalf.[5] In 2010, he won France's Human Rights Prize.[2] In 2023, Messaoud received the Officer of the National Order of Merit medal.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 "Mauritanian anti-slavery stalwart Boubacar Ould Messaoud dead". France 24. 12 March 2026. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 Nossiter, Adam (25 March 2026). "Boubacar Ould Messaoud, Leader in an Antislavery Fight, Dies at 80". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 March 2026.
  3. ↑ Sutter, John D; McNamee, Edythe. "Slavery's last stand". CNN. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Mauritanian anti-slavery stalwart Boubacar Ould Messaoud dead". Yahoo News. 12 March 2026. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  5. ↑ "Awarded for exposing the African country where 1 in 5 are slaves". Anti-Slavery International. 22 May 2009. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
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