The Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders in Africa has learned with satisfaction the release of Messrs Eyoub O. Mohamed Mboyrik, Ahmednah O. Outhmane, Mahfoudh O. Mohamed, Boubacar O. Salem, Abdallahi Dembélé, Aliyine O. Zeidane, Hamza O. Jaafar, Samba Diagana and Cheikhna O. Mahmoud, human rights defenders in Mauritania who were arrested and detained on 9 March 2013.
The Special Rapporteur commends the Government of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania for this gesture which bears testimony to its willingness to provide justice to these human rights defenders and expresses her gratitude to the Mauritanian authorities for collaborating with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, in particular the mechanism of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders in Africa.
The Special Rapporteur recognises and supports the efforts of the Mauritanian authorities towards establishing the rule of law in accordance with the principles of the international and regional instruments ratified by Mauritania.
The Special Rapporteur would like to seize this opportunity to call on the Government of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania to continue its efforts towards ensuring at all times the rights of human rights defenders in Mauritania.
Banjul, 22 March 2013
Mrs Reine Alapini Gansou
Special Rapporteur on Human
Rights Defenders in Africa
