Mauritania's plans to combat slavery

The Mauritanian government has announced plans to launch a new department to deal with the growing problem of slavery with the government. In a cabinet meeting held on Friday, President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz announced the formation of the National Institution to Confront Slavery and Combat Poverty to replace the current National Agency for Refugees. The president revealed that the department will begin work immediately on the increasing incidents of slavery reported in the country. Despite abolishing slavery in 2007, activists and former slaves have repeatedly spoken out against the centuries-old practice, saying it is still common in many parts of the country. Meanwhile, the government also ratified a number of draft laws to combat terrorism as part of move encouraged by the African Union.