Vulnerability to Violence of 'Talibe' Children in Mauritania

"Talibe" children are children sent to Quranic schools (daaras), where they are completely dependent on a master, known as a marabout. This is a very common system of education in formerly French-speaking countries in West Africa. In the last 10 years or so, numerous cases of violence towards "talibe" children have been reported in the media. This paper presents an analysis of the risk factors involved in the physical violence perpetrated by the marabouts towards these children. It is based on a study carried out in Mauritania. Using a probit model, this study has revealed that there are three main risk factors for this violence: the age of the children, their relationships with their families, and the number of children attending the school. In conclusion, a change in the rules for regulating daaras and criminalising violent marabouts is necessary. (Contains 2 tables.)