Abdul Karim Wdai

Mauritanian abolitionist who legally ended slavery in his country through strategic activism

Combatting Modern Slavery

Abdul Karim Wdai (1920–2004) was a Mauritanian lawyer who spent 40 years eradicating slavery in his country. After witnessing child slaves being sold in Nouakchott markets during the 1950s, he began documenting cases that exposed slavery's persistence post-independence. His 1968 report 'The Invisible Chains' forced the government to acknowledge slavery's prevalence despite legal prohibitions.

Legal Milestones

Wdai's 1981 lawsuit against a slave-owning family became a landmark case when the court ruled slavery unconstitutional. Though the ruling wasn't immediately enforced, it created a legal precedent. His 2007 book 'Freedom Unbound' details the psychological impacts of slavery, influencing international anti-slavery laws.

Lasting Influence

Wdai's work inspired the IRIN slavery monitoring system and the Anti-Slavery International's 2003 campaign. Today, his foundation trains legal advocates across West Africa. Despite Mauritania's 2007 slavery law, his methods remain vital in combating modern slavery's remnants.