To Human Rights Organizations
To all respected human rights organizations, legal advocates, and defenders of justice,
We write to you as the sons and daughters of a tragedy that has been buried in silence for more than three decades. We are the Orphans Alliance, a nonprofit organization representing the children of Black Mauritanian soldiers and civilians who were brutally executed between 1986 and 1991. These were not isolated acts of violence—they were part of a state-sponsored campaign of ethnic cleansing targeting the Black population of Mauritania.
Our fathers were taken in the dead of night—tortured, executed without trial, and buried in unmarked mass graves. Our families were never notified. We were left with no graves to mourn at, no truth to hold onto, and no justice to hope for.
In 1993, the Mauritanian government enacted Amnesty Law 93.23, which prohibits any investigation or prosecution of those responsible for these atrocities. This law effectively legalizes impunity. Among those shielded by it is Ould Maguett, a former military intelligence officer identified by survivors and witnesses as a key figure in the November 1990 mass executions, including the murder of Lieutenant Tambadou Aboulaye.
Today, Ould Maguett is no longer hiding. He is the President of the Mauritanian Senate, the very body responsible for creating national laws. If he is innocent, why must a blanket amnesty still exist to protect him? Why does he rely on political influence, bribery, and corruption to rehabilitate his image rather than facing a transparent investigation? And most importantly: Where are our fathers buried?
We are launching a global campaign to demand truth, justice, and accountability. We call upon your conscience, your mission, and your principles to stand with us. We urgently request your support to:
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Publicly denounce Amnesty Law 93.23, which violates international human rights norms and shields perpetrators of crimes against humanity.
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Support an independent international investigation into the ethnic cleansing, executions, and enforced disappearances that occurred from 1986 to 1991.
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Pressure governments, especially Senegal and France, to end the safe harboring of individuals implicated in these crimes and to cooperate with justice efforts.
This is not just about the past it is about our right to truth, dignity, and healing. As long as war criminals remain protected by law and rise to positions of power, Mauritania cannot move forward.
We implore you to amplify our call. Help us uncover the truth. Help us bring dignity to the dead. And help us ensure that never again will the pain of one people be written out of history.
Where are our fathers buried?
When will justice be served?
With hope and determination,
The Orphans Alliance
who is ould maguett really
This individual stands as a stark symbol of the pain endured by the victims of the November 1990 atrocities, embodying the systemic oppression and brutality of the ethnic cleansing campaign against Black Mauritanians. His continued impunity and ascent to power not only deepen the unresolved trauma of survivors and families but also underscore Mauritania’s failure to confront these injustices, denying accountability and justice at every level.
Mohamed Ould Meguett, a senior officer in the Mauritanian military during the 1990-1991 campaign of ethnic cleansing, is alleged to have played a pivotal role in serious human rights violations targeting Black Mauritanians. He is accused of being directly involved in the execution and torture of approximately 600 Black Mauritanian soldiers, the majority of whom were from the Fulani, Soninke, and Wolof ethnic groups. These acts were part of a systematic campaign aimed at eliminating perceived threats to Arab-Berber dominance. Eyewitnesses and survivors have directly implicated Ould Meguett in overseeing these atrocities, including the assassination of Lieutenant Tambadou Abdoulaye, a Black officer. His name is also associated with the atrocities at Inal barracks, where, on November 28, 1990, 28 Black soldiers were hanged during a grim Independence Day “celebration.” Testimonies from survivors claim Ould Meguett was present, giving orders and participating in acts of torture and dehumanization.
Despite extensive evidence and credible testimonies, Ould Meguett has never been held accountable. Instead, he has been actively protected by the Mauritanian government, which has obstructed independent investigations and enforced Amnesty Law 93.23, granting immunity for crimes committed between 1989 and 1992. His subsequent rise to influential positions, including President of the National Assembly, exemplifies the entrenched culture of impunity in Mauritania. Ould Meguett’s alleged involvement in the atrocities of 1990-1991, particularly targeting Black Mauritanian soldiers from the Fulani, Soninke, and Wolof communities, underscores systemic racial violence and the government’s ongoing refusal to address these historical injustices, denying victims and their families the justice they deserve.
Impact on Victims and Their Families
For the thousands of families who lost loved ones or were forcibly displaced, the Amnesty Law has not only compounded their suffering but has also institutionalized denial of justice. By shielding perpetrators from accountability, the law prevents families from obtaining truth, justice, and closure. To this day, the remains of many victims lie in unmarked mass graves, with the government offering little to no information about their locations further intensifying the pain and trauma of surviving relatives.
Moreover, the law impedes efforts to restore the dignity and honor of those unjustly accused and executed under fabricated charges, such as alleged involvement in the 1990 coup attempt. Families are left without meaningful legal avenues to contest these injustices or to demand state accountability beyond limited and symbolic financial compensation.
Discrimination
