Cheikh is a consultant based in Mauritania with a particular focus on human rights. In 2005 he was made an officer of the Palmes Académiques Françaises (a French award honouring academic or educational contributions). He has moderated sessions around the world on topics such as transitional justice, refugees, national unity and HIV and AIDS.

He is a professor of sociology. He has a background in the study of slavery and was on the board of directors and president of the UN’s Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery (1993 - 2007). He won the Anti-Slavery International award in 1998.

He was a member of Mauritania’s Independent Electoral Commission from 2005 to 2007 and a founder member of the l'Association Mauritanienne des Droits de l'Homme (Mauritanian Association for Human Rights).