Mauritania
The Berber Kingdom of Mauretania's Mauri people gave their name to the Moors. In 711 Moors invaded the Iberian Peninsula (most of modern day Spain & Portugal). The fall of Granada eventually ended Muslim rule in 1492 with the Muslim minority expelled in 1609. Mauritania was part of French West Africa from 1920 with independence coming in 1960. About 20% of Mauritanians live on less than US$1.25 per day. Estimates of 150,000 - 600,000 people are alleged to live in slavery. In 1981, Mauritania became the last country in the world to abolish slavery. The government say that all its citizens are free. One of the reasons given for persistence is that people suffer from illiteracy & poverty and don't know that life outside of servitude is available. Chains linger in the mind even after removed.
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