Mauritania is a North African desert country which meets the sea on one side. This country has a dark secret that the government strives hard to hide from the world – SLAVERY! Although on paper, the government has banned slavery since 1981 and criminalized the ownership of slaves in 2007, over 20% of Mauritania is still enslaved. Despite multiple sting operations by world press, including CNN, in 2012, no Western country has come out to condemn Mauritania. This lack of action by the West is due to the vast mineral resources in the country, including iron and, by 2025, oil. Mauritania is ranked 23rd in the Open Doors USA Persecuted Countries list in 2025. Mauritania is also one of the poorest countries in the world.