The government of Niger has been found guilty of failing to protect one of its citizens from slavery. Hadijatou Mani brought her case before the Court of Justice of the West African regional body Ecowas and finding in her favour the court has ordered the government of Niger to pay Ms Mani 10m CFA francs (£12,430; $19,750).

“This [ruling] is very important in terms of the community of nations, and particularly the African community of nations looking at other countries within that region and saying: ‘What standard are we expecting each other to be held to in relation to international and national law?'”

Hadijatou Mani