A former slave in Niger has won a landmark case against the government there, a ruling that resonates throughout West Africa. Hadijatou Mani took the government of Niger to court for failing to protect her. The Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) has ordered that the government of Niger pay Ms. Mani 10 million CFA francs, approximately 12,400 pounds.

Niger has claimed in the past to be a proponent of slavery eradication but this ruling depicts a problem, which is very much alive there and in neighboring states. Uncertainty exists in the expectations of the government of Niger to abide by the ruling. The ruling will be binding for all members of Ecowas and while having no real bearing on non-member states will hopefully raise awareness against the practice in states such as Chad and Sudan, where slavery is a common practice. There, the practice of slavery is centuries old and is prolonged by the ethnic tensions and conflict in the region. 

Her story is a common one in the Sahel region of Africa. Ms. Mani was sold into slavery at the age of 12 and has since faced rape and numerous beatings at the hands of Souleymane Naroua, the man who purchased her 12 years ago. When he granted her liberation in 2005, Ms. Mani sought to marry but upon Mr. Naroua’s claim that she was already married to him, she went to court. The local court found in her favor and permitted her wedding but an appeals court overturned the verdict and found her guilty of bigamy and she was sentenced to six months in prison. A British human rights organization, Anti-Slavery International (ASI), then adopted Ms. Mani and with their help, she took her case to the Ecowas regional grouping and has now won a significant and historic case for victims of slavery in West Africa and for their future generations who will no longer be forced into a life of ownership.

Romana Cacchioli, the Africa expert of the ASI, said: “This will help free other women all over the region ... There is nothing more fundamental than the right to freedom. People in Niger now know that if a slave can take the State to court and win, then they too can confidently stand up for their human rights.” Ms. Cacchioli said that her group has helped to free 80 women slaves in Niger in the past five years. Still, though slavery is a recognized criminal activity in the international community, it is estimated that 40,000 people continue to live as slaves in Niger and across West Africa.