Mauritania: Treatment of members of the Sonike ethnic group by the Hassaniyas (Arabs) and the Maures (August 2002)

Information on an ethnic group called Sonike could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, sources refer to a Mauritanian minority ethnic group named "Soninke" (Joshua Project 31 May 2002; Pitsch Sept. 1999; Country Reports 2001 2002, Sect 3; Bethany World Prayer Center 1997; CDHRM 29 Aug. 2002). Also known as Sarakole (Joshua Project 31 May 2002; Pitsch Sept. 1999), members of this group are estimated to about 32, 800 persons, (Joshua Project 31 May 2002; Bethany World Prayer Center 1997), that make up less than 2 per cent of the country's total population (ibid.).

According to Country Reports 2001, "the Halpulaar (the largest non-Moor group), the Wolof, and the Soninke ethnic groups are concentrated in the south and are underrepresented in the military and security sectors" (2002, sect. 4). In its section 3, the same report added the following:

The percentage of minorities in government or politics does not correspond to their percentage of the population; Haratines, Halpulaars, Soninkes, and Wolofs are underrepresented in senior government positions. Of the Government's 20 ministerial posts, 2 incumbents are Haratine, 2 are Halpulaar, and 1 is Soninke; the remaining 15 are of either White Moor or mixed White Moor/Haratine ethnicity (see Section 5). The full 27-member Cabinet, including secretaries of state, has 3 Haratines, 3 Halpulaars, and 1 Soninke. The 56-member Senate has 3 Haratines, 4 Halpulaars, 3 Soninkes, and the remaining 46 are of either White Moor or mixed White Moor/Haratine heritage. The 81-member National Assembly has 9 Haratines, 8 Halpulaars, 2 Soninkes, and 2 Wolof (Country Reports 2001 2002, sect. 3).

In 29 August 2002 correspondence with the Research Directorate, a representative of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights in Mauritania-Europa Branch, noted that:

Mauritanians belonging to the Soninké ethnic group, if oppositionals, disowned landowners etc. - or simply rebellious -, are treated unfairly by the authorities, apart from the points stated above. Some are incarcerated without being charged. However, there are others who have joined the ruling party, PRDS. They (and maybe their families) may be less discriminated against.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

The Bethany World Prayer Center. 1997. The Unreached Peoples Prayer Profiles. The Soninke of Mauritania. < http://www.bethany.com/profiles/p_code6/254.html> [Accessed 27 Aug. 2002]

Committee for the Defence of Human Rights in Mauritania (CDHRM). 29 August 2002. Correspondence.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2001. 4 March 2002. "Mauritania." US Department of State. Washington, DC. [Accessed 29 Aug. 2002]

Joshua Project II-Unreached People Profile. 31 May 2002. "Soninke (Sarakole)." [Accessed on 27 Aug. 1999].

Pitsch Anne. September 1999. "Kewri of Mauritania." Minorities at Risk Project. [Accessed 27 Aug. 2002]

Additional Sources Consulted

Africa Confidential [London]. 2002.

Africa Research Bulletin [London]. 2002.

IRB Databases.

Jeune Afrique/L'Intelligent [Paris]. 2002.

LEXIS/NEXIS.

Resource Centre country file. Mauritania.

Websites, including:

Africatime.

Agence mauritanienne d'information.

Allafrica.

Amnesty International.

FIDH.

HRW.

Mauritanie en ligne.

UNHCR.