By Mohamed A Yasin

For centuries, the history of human enslavement has been largely defined by the transatlantic slave trade, a brutal system that forcibly transported millions of Africans to the Americas. However, an equally harrowing, yet often overlooked chapter of history is the Arab slave trade. This centuries-long system, which predated European involvement, left a profound and lasting impact on the African continent.

Beginning in the seventh century with the expansion of Islam, the Arab slave trade became a vast network spanning North Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian Ocean. Arab traders sought African slaves for various purposes: as domestic servants, soldiers, laborers, and concubines. Unlike the transatlantic slave trade, which primarily focused on agricultural labor, the Arab slave trade had a more complex structure. Slaves were often integrated into households or military ranks, with many serving in royal courts or harems.

One of the most notorious aspects of this trade was the widespread castration of male slaves, particularly those destined to become eunuchs in royal circles. This cruel practice led to high mortality rates, as the procedures were often performed without proper medical care. Many of these enslaved individuals came from regions such as the Swahili Coast, the Horn of Africa, and Central Africa, enduring perilous journeys across deserts and seas to reach their destinations.

The number of African slaves taken through the Arab slave trade is estimated to be between 18 and 19 million. Unlike the transatlantic trade, which gave rise to large African diaspora communities in the Americas, the Arab slave trade left little visible trace of African ancestry in the Middle East and North Africa. The high mortality rate from castration, harsh treatment, and eventual assimilation into local populations led to the erasure of cultural and ethnic identities over generations.

Arab slave traders, despite being Muslims, showed no mercy in their exploitation of Africans, systematically depopulating vast regions of the continent. In contrast to the Americas, where descendants of enslaved Africans eventually built communities and rose to positions of power,the Arab world left no such legacy. In Christian-dominated nations, abolitionists like William Wilberforce campaigned for emancipation, eventually leading to the end of slavery. However, no comparable abolitionist movement existed in the Arab world, where slavery persisted for centuries without significant opposition.

One notable event in this history was the Zanj Rebellion, which took place between 869 and 883 AD in present-day Iraq. Led by an individual claiming Persian noble ancestry, the rebellion saw thousands of African slaves rise against their Arab masters. Although ultimately crushed, the rebellion highlighted the scale of the slave trade and the appalling conditions under which the enslaved lived. Despite the abolitionist movements of the 19th century, the legacy of the Arab slave trade did not disappear. Slavery persisted in some Arab nations well into the 20th century, with countries such as Saudi Arabia and Oman only officially abolishing it in the 1960s. Modern-day slavery, in the form of human trafficking and forced labor, continues in certain regions today.

In contemporary Arab states, especially the wealthy Gulf nations, systems exist that echo the harsh realities of historical slavery. Foreign workers, primarily from Africa and South Asia, are subjected to poor working conditions with little to no rights. The notorious kafala system binds workers to their employers, preventing them from changing jobs or leaving without permission. Many domestic workers, particularly women, face abuse, forced confinement, and even sexual exploitation, resembling modern-day concubines with no legal protections. The treatment of foreign workers in these countries reflects a disturbing continuity of the exploitation seen during the Arab slave trade. While the form of servitude has evolved, the dynamics of power and control, along with a disregard for the dignity of foreign workers, remain alarmingly similar to historical slavery.

The kafala system, in particular, has led to severe abuses. Under this sponsorship system, workers depend entirely on their employers for their legal status, including the ability to work and reside in the country. Without the employer’s consent, workers cannot change jobs, leave the country, or even seek help from authorities. If they attempt to escape or protest, they risk arrest, deportation, or even criminal charges, as they are legally powerless.  Many foreign domestic workers, especially women from countries like the Philippines, Indonesia, Ethiopia, and Sri Lanka, endure long hours, physical and emotional abuse, forced confinement, and sexual exploitation. These workers, often isolated in employers' homes, are vulnerable to harsh punishments if they try to assert their rights or flee. In some cases, employers withhold wages for months or years, trapping workers in a cycle of indentured servitude.

The kafala system is deeply ingrained in the cultural and political structures of many Gulf states, reinforcing the idea that foreign laborers are second-class citizens. Reports of human trafficking, where workers are coerced into labor under false pretenses, continue to surface, revealing modern forms of forced labor reminiscent of the Arab slave trade. Migrant workers from Africa and South Asia are particularly vulnerable to debt bondage, where they are lured into taking jobs that they can never repay due to exorbitant recruitment fees. The lack of a strong legal framework to protect foreign workers, compounded by a climate of impunity, has allowed these abuses to persist. Although human rights organizations have condemned the situation, meaningful reform remains slow and insufficient. In some cases, labor laws have been tightened to limit workers' ability to seek justice, further entrenching their vulnerability.

The legacy of the Arab slave trade, in which millions of Africans were enslaved and transported to the Middle East, continues to affect these workers. While the nature of their enslavement has changed, the exploitation, disregard for human dignity, and dehumanization remain eerily similar. Modern-day slavery in the Arab world is often hidden from view, taking place behind closed doors where workers are silenced by fear and isolation. The ongoing abuse of foreign workers serves as a reminder that the horrors of the Arab slave trade have not been fully addressed. The erasure of African identity through forced labor and assimilation is echoed today in the anonymity and powerlessness of migrant workers in the Gulf. With no visible African diaspora or descendants of enslaved people to claim their heritage, the impact of this forgotten chapter remains difficult to assess.

To address these abuses, it is crucial to not only implement legal reforms but also recognize the historical forces that shaped these systems of exploitation. Through education, advocacy, and sustained pressure from within the Arab world and the international community, meaningful change can be achieved for workers trapped in these modern-day systems of servitude. This history raises difficult questions about the lasting consequences of the Arab slave trade. Unlike the transatlantic trade, which left large African diaspora communities in the Americas, the Arab slave trade sought to erase African heritage by assimilating many enslaved Africans. As scholars continue to uncover and document this hidden history, there is a growing call for greater recognition of the Arab slave trade’s impact on Africa and the world.

The silence surrounding this trade is slowly being broken. With the rise of historical research and digital archives, stories of resilience, suffering, and survival are emerging, challenging long-held narratives. This history deserves to be told, not only to honor those who endured it but also to ensure that future generations learn from the past and strive for a world free from oppression and exploitation.

Mohamed A Yasin
Email: moyasin680@gmail.com