This week my blog is about modern slavery,inspired by Coleman Weeks’ blog on slavery, and reblogged by me, or you can go to http://marsocialauthorbusinessenhancementannesdystopia.wordpress.com/2014/09/11/the-internment-of-society/ There is an advert on the telly at the moment about modern slavery in the UK, but I want to write about slavery in Sudan, Africa.
When I did the research for my latest book ‘Where Lies My Heart’, part of which is set in Africa, I was appalled to learn that Sudan is one of the worse countries in the world for modern slavery.
This is not a new thing by any means. Slavery in Sudan started in ancient times, and continues to the present day. Since 1995, many human rights organisations have reported on this practice, especially in the context of the second Sudanese civil war. Both the government-backed militias and the rebels have been found guilty of abducting civilians.
The Sudanese government claims that slavery is the product of inter-tribal warfare, over which it has no control. The Human Rights Watch reject this, and states the government is involved in backing and arming numerous slave-taking militias in the country. Police rarely help victims’ families in locating their children, and the Sudan Criminal Code of 1991 does not list slavery as a crime!
The majority of the the abductees are Dinka from the Bahr el-Ghazal region in southern Sudan, but other ethnic groups are affected. For Arab traders, ‘the nation of blacks’ has been traditionally been the source of slaves, and ‘Infidel southerners’ classed as inferior and therefore ‘natural’ slaves.
Many have no option but to live in transit camps for long periods, experiencing the harsh realities of life, including being captured as slaves, as the region tries to recover from the lengthy war.
Next week I will be writing about an organisation who attempts to free slaves.
PLEASE reblog this. Post it your Facebook page, to your Twitter account – anywhere so it can be seen. Modern slavery must be stamped out all over the world.
MARSocial Author Business Enhancement Dragon Post 
Great post! Very educational and sad to know that these issues are still a problem in 2014
Reblogged this on Joy Lennick and commented:
What century are we in? This is progress?!
Good for you Kathy highlighting just one of the injustices innocent, poor people have thrust upon them!
Thanks Joy. Have you seen the advert on British telly about slavery in the UK? I don’t think the advert mentions how many.
To Quirky Girl in Spain. Thanks Janette for your ‘like’ I tried to get into your blog but failed. Can you send me the link by email.
Slavery also includes sexual enslavement of women, rape, torture and endless child bearing. Arab Nations, Muslims, followers of Islam ( hope it is politically correct) still have this attitude towards Black people and Women. It is happening in the UK today because of idiotic P.C. thinking and ruling. Look forward to reading more Kathy.
Hi Georgia. I know. In my book I refer to Arab racism against black nations, even though some are Muslim. I intend to do a further blog on female circumcision.