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Mali's lax laws make an anti-slavery activism tough Mali's lax laws make an anti-slavery activism tough
(6 months later)
Being an anti-slavery activist is not easy: one faces powerful enemies, practices rooted in centuries-old traditions and beliefs. The government is not always there to protect you. Add in military conflict and insecurity and the job becomes impossible.Being an anti-slavery activist is not easy: one faces powerful enemies, practices rooted in centuries-old traditions and beliefs. The government is not always there to protect you. Add in military conflict and insecurity and the job becomes impossible.
Even though slavery is formally abolished in Mali's constitution, slavery in its most traditional sense still exists throughout the country, especially in the northern regions. Slavery practices are culturally accepted by the elites of all groups and are underpinned by discrimination of people of slave descent.Even though slavery is formally abolished in Mali's constitution, slavery in its most traditional sense still exists throughout the country, especially in the northern regions. Slavery practices are culturally accepted by the elites of all groups and are underpinned by discrimination of people of slave descent.
I come from the north east of Mali and belong to a black-skinned group that is part of the Zargahafane clan. Historically this is one of Mali's slave-clans. For centuries my family have been used as slaves by Tuareg clans, even though we mostly live separately from the masters these days. But the relationship between my relatives and our traditional masters always made me angry. This is why I became an anti-slavery activist.I come from the north east of Mali and belong to a black-skinned group that is part of the Zargahafane clan. Historically this is one of Mali's slave-clans. For centuries my family have been used as slaves by Tuareg clans, even though we mostly live separately from the masters these days. But the relationship between my relatives and our traditional masters always made me angry. This is why I became an anti-slavery activist.
Although they wield a lot of power, the Tuaregs, an ethnic group mostly living in the north of the country, have always been marginalised and have often tried to gain independence. The government has been trying to keep them happy. This is why, while it's not entirely unsympathetic to the anti-slavery movement, the government has always been reluctant to intervene to stop Tuareg elites owning slaves. This makes life difficult for anti-slavery activists like me.Although they wield a lot of power, the Tuaregs, an ethnic group mostly living in the north of the country, have always been marginalised and have often tried to gain independence. The government has been trying to keep them happy. This is why, while it's not entirely unsympathetic to the anti-slavery movement, the government has always been reluctant to intervene to stop Tuareg elites owning slaves. This makes life difficult for anti-slavery activists like me.
I started learning how these politics work back in 1977 when I urged a cousin who had been born into slavery to leave her master. She managed to escape and I helped get her to the local authorities but the police came to a 'friendly' arrangement with the master, so he was never prosecuted.I started learning how these politics work back in 1977 when I urged a cousin who had been born into slavery to leave her master. She managed to escape and I helped get her to the local authorities but the police came to a 'friendly' arrangement with the master, so he was never prosecuted.
Things got more serious in 2002 after I helped organise a successful mission to recover five young children of ex-slaves who had been abducted by their former masters.Things got more serious in 2002 after I helped organise a successful mission to recover five young children of ex-slaves who had been abducted by their former masters.
A few years later, one of the child – a 14 year-old boy – was abducted again and forced back into slavery. Years later he escaped again and I helped get him to safety and out of the area but the masters soon came after his family. They accused his uncle of helping the boy to escape and shot him just above the knee. He bled to death as doctors tried to amputate his leg. After that I continued to receive death threats.A few years later, one of the child – a 14 year-old boy – was abducted again and forced back into slavery. Years later he escaped again and I helped get him to safety and out of the area but the masters soon came after his family. They accused his uncle of helping the boy to escape and shot him just above the knee. He bled to death as doctors tried to amputate his leg. After that I continued to receive death threats.
As I started helping more people to escape, the threats against me increased and I had to leave my village and move to the nearby town of Menaka. Two years ago I was at a fair in rural area just outside Menaka when five men assaulted me with whips, beat me and held a knife to my throat. I would have been killed if others hadn't intervened.As I started helping more people to escape, the threats against me increased and I had to leave my village and move to the nearby town of Menaka. Two years ago I was at a fair in rural area just outside Menaka when five men assaulted me with whips, beat me and held a knife to my throat. I would have been killed if others hadn't intervened.
When I complained to the local clan chief, he told me that it had happened because I had 'taken away' their slaves and now they had no one to herd the animals or do all the domestic work. He advised me to stop interfering because I was risking my life.When I complained to the local clan chief, he told me that it had happened because I had 'taken away' their slaves and now they had no one to herd the animals or do all the domestic work. He advised me to stop interfering because I was risking my life.
The problem in the northern regions is that these local clan chiefs have more power than the state. The police in these rural areas are worried about their own security so, even though slavery is illegal, they never take action against local slave masters. In all my time as an activist I have only known the police to investigate one or two isolated cases.The problem in the northern regions is that these local clan chiefs have more power than the state. The police in these rural areas are worried about their own security so, even though slavery is illegal, they never take action against local slave masters. In all my time as an activist I have only known the police to investigate one or two isolated cases.
Last year when the latest Tuareg rebellion started, things for Mali's slaves got much worse. The state lost even its limited control over the northern regions and slaves groups were left with no protection or recourse to justice at all.Last year when the latest Tuareg rebellion started, things for Mali's slaves got much worse. The state lost even its limited control over the northern regions and slaves groups were left with no protection or recourse to justice at all.
Many slave masters fled the region leaving their slaves behind with no means of living or surviving. Their situation is still precarious, with many living in hiding. Others used the chaos as an opportunity to reassert their authority over former slaves. I know of cases where children were simply taken from families of slave descent. People of slave descent were also targeted by the Islamist groups that emerged amid the chaos and imposed Sharia law on the most defenceless – many had limbs amputated, or were stoned or flogged.Many slave masters fled the region leaving their slaves behind with no means of living or surviving. Their situation is still precarious, with many living in hiding. Others used the chaos as an opportunity to reassert their authority over former slaves. I know of cases where children were simply taken from families of slave descent. People of slave descent were also targeted by the Islamist groups that emerged amid the chaos and imposed Sharia law on the most defenceless – many had limbs amputated, or were stoned or flogged.
At the moment we are monitoring the situation in the north, but it still isn't safe enough for anti-slavery activists to operate. In the meantime all we can do is keep putting pressure on the government to recognise the fact that slavery still exists in Mali and to take action to stop it.At the moment we are monitoring the situation in the north, but it still isn't safe enough for anti-slavery activists to operate. In the meantime all we can do is keep putting pressure on the government to recognise the fact that slavery still exists in Mali and to take action to stop it.
Anti-slavery groups like Temedt, the organisation I work for, need support form foreign agencies and governments. Without this support we won't be able to establish the basic security and law enforcement necessary to allow us to return to the northern areas and continue our work.Anti-slavery groups like Temedt, the organisation I work for, need support form foreign agencies and governments. Without this support we won't be able to establish the basic security and law enforcement necessary to allow us to return to the northern areas and continue our work.
We also lack the basic resources to do our work. At the moment we can only help those people who come to us, but there are many more we could reach if we had the means to travel directly into the most affected areas. We also need video-cameras to document the reality on the ground. We alone can't 'rescue' people from slavery – we need to be able to gather the evidence and the proof that will then force the authorities to intervene.We also lack the basic resources to do our work. At the moment we can only help those people who come to us, but there are many more we could reach if we had the means to travel directly into the most affected areas. We also need video-cameras to document the reality on the ground. We alone can't 'rescue' people from slavery – we need to be able to gather the evidence and the proof that will then force the authorities to intervene.
People working towards ending slavery in Mali will never be safe to do their work until the government acknowledges the existence of slavery and takes serious steps towards ending it. We need stronger laws criminalising slavery and the inclusion of people of slave descent in peace talks and governance. People leaving a lifetime of slavery need socio-economic support in order to start their new lives.People working towards ending slavery in Mali will never be safe to do their work until the government acknowledges the existence of slavery and takes serious steps towards ending it. We need stronger laws criminalising slavery and the inclusion of people of slave descent in peace talks and governance. People leaving a lifetime of slavery need socio-economic support in order to start their new lives.
Only then we can hope that the long held beliefs around caste and slavery will be consigned to the history books and that we will be safe to do our jobs without fear of what will be waiting for round the corner.Only then we can hope that the long held beliefs around caste and slavery will be consigned to the history books and that we will be safe to do our jobs without fear of what will be waiting for round the corner.
Intamat Ag N'kadewane is a member of the Malian anti-slavery organisation Temedt.Intamat Ag N'kadewane is a member of the Malian anti-slavery organisation Temedt.
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