Systemic Racism and Historical Injustices: The Struggles of Black Mauritanians 

In Mauritania, located in Northwest Africa, the black community faces significant challenges rooted in systemic racism and historical injustices. Despite the abolition of slavery in 1980, many black Mauritanians continue to experience discrimination and socio-economic marginalization such as forced labor, enslavement, political oppression, unlawful imprisonment, torture, and even the removal of citizenship. Reports of police brutality and arbitrary arrests targeting black individuals highlight ongoing human rights abuses, however, efforts to address these issues are often met with resistance, making the struggle for equality and justice an ongoing battle.

Adama, a Black Mauritanian, can speak of the severity of the situation in his home county first-hand, as he has endured unimaginable hardships.

A Childhood of Hardship & Daring Escape

Adama’s early years were marked by forced labor. His family, sharecroppers, worked tirelessly on a farm without pay. As he grew older, Adama was promised paid work but was instead enslaved again, this time as a domestic worker. His attempts to advocate for himself led to imprisonment and torture by the Mauritanian police, reinforcing his status as an unpaid laborer for seven long years.

In 2016, Adama finally managed to escape and fled to Brazil. There, he worked as a street merchant without legal status, facing robbery and threats. Despite these challenges, he managed to save enough money to embark on a perilous journey through South and Central America, finally reaching the U.S.-Mexico border in 2019.

A Harsh Welcome & New Beginning in Colorado

Upon arrival in the U.S., Adama was detained for seven months, despite sharing his harrowing story and fears of returning to Mauritania. However, after bonding out of detention, Adama made his way to Colorado, where in December 2020 - just weeks before the end of his deadline to file for asylum - he connected with the IRC in Denver’s Survivor Wellness Center for Survivors of Torture. This center provides holistic services and promotes full rehabilitation for survivors.

Through the program, Adama received support from clinical case managers and the IRC in Denver's Legal Services team. Facing removal proceedings, he needed expert legal advice to seek asylum and avoid deportation. The Legal Services team quickly assisted him in filing his asylum application and later supported his employment authorization application.

In March 2024, nearly eight years after fleeing Mauritania, Adama appeared before the Immigration Court for his final asylum hearing. Represented by Ellie Carroll, Asylums Program Manager with the IRC in Denver, Adama testified about his persecution. The judge granted him asylum, and the Department of Homeland Security waived the appeal, allowing Adama to live permanently and safely in the United States.

"It was a privilege to represent Adama,"

says Ellie Carroll, Asylum Programs Manager at the IRC in Denver,

"He is truly a courageous and kind person. When the judge announced that he would be granting Adama asylum, seeing the relief it provided him after so many long years, was one of the happiest moments of my career."

The IRC in Denver’s Legal Services team spent three and a half years preparing Adama’s asylum case. His journey from persecution to protection is a testament to his resilience and the dedicated support he received. Adama’s story is a powerful reminder of the strength and determination of those seeking a better life. His journey, though fraught with challenges, ultimately led to a new beginning filled with hope and safety.

This story was originally written by Rula Ifteiha and was adapted for this publication by Hanna Simmons.