This country is one of the most economically underdeveloped countries in the world. About 40 percent of the population lives below the poverty line. The unemployment rate is 30 percent. The average life expectancy is 58 years for men, 63 years for women. Literacy is 59 percent for men, 43 percent for women. This is one of the worst dictatorships, where there is no point in talking about any standard of living at all. Medieval and even ancient orders have not yet died out in this country. Local rulers are far from democratic leaders, but ordinary kings under other names. A special caste of dark-skinned slaves called haratin still exists here. They have absolutely no rights. As a rule, they are owned by Arab nobility or wealthy individuals. The country is in conflict with all its neighbors. Over the course of half a century, this country has experienced military coups, drought, civil war, production shutdowns, strikes, corruption, and terrible internal disorder. The territory is home to several conflicting ethnic groups. The Islamic Republic of Mauritania is one of the few countries where slavery still plays an important role in the life of society. The state has banned slavery three times, but no one observes this law. How much does a slave cost in Mauritania, and why are the locals not trying to change the centuries-old order? Mauritania is a fairly large country located in West Africa with access to the Atlantic Ocean. The area of ​​the territory is more than 1 million km². This is 2 times more than the lands of Spain, France or Uzbekistan. However, 60% of the country's territory is desert. There is very little arable land, drought can last for several years in a row and there is a serious problem with drinking water. Only 2/3 of the inhabitants have access to it. Agricultural areas are limited to a narrow strip of land along the Senegal River and around the oases. The Mauritanians have neither rich natural resources, nor developed industry, nor tourism, nor an offshore zone. Iron and copper ore deposits are developed by foreign companies and do not actually belong to the local authorities. The country officially has the weakest production base in Africa, and if it were not for the ocean, Mauritania would be lost. Poverty, illiteracy and the desert itself do not allow the Mauritanians to escape poverty, determine the conservation of society and preserve the slave system. However, for many locals, this is the only way to survive. What is unique about Mauritanian slavery? Slave systems came to Mauritania with the Arab expansion. Muslims subjugated the local Berbers and African tribes, seizing all water sources and oases as their personal property. Those who knew how to fight, had a craft and converted to Islam, occupied a privileged position and gained access to resources. People who did not know how to do anything ended up as slaves. They had to work for the Muslims to be able to cultivate the land and collect water. Centuries have passed, but nothing has changed in Mauritania. To this day, 500,000 residents (11% of the population), mostly black, have no rights and are dependent on their owners. Officially, the country banned slavery back in 1981. In large cities and the coastal zone, this ban is adhered to, but in the desert, there is no one to enforce the law. These are impoverished lands, where the only property of the Berbers is livestock and a well. Black families graze animals, sell water and farm on the land of the Berber owner, and in return receive shelter and food. Human rights organizations and the UN also note numerous cases of sexual slavery and violence against women. Formally, no one keeps slaves: if you want, run away. But they have nowhere to run. It is almost impossible to get to large cities or leave Mauritania without outside help. You can try to take the property from the owner. But since this is illegal, the police side with the Berbers.