Mali: African Union (AU) Action Needed to End Crackdown on Opposition, Dissent
The African Commission on Human Rights should take urgent action to stop Marien Human Rights Watch today’s political suppression of political opposition and dissent letter to African Union officials. The committee should immediately focus on cases of several politicians, which were forcibly disappeared by the Malian authorities or were detained for political motives.
“The Commission should request the invitation of the Government of Mali to visit the country as early as possible.” AlanriDirector of Advocacy of African Human Rights Watch. “Such visits will send clear messages to the authorities, the Commission adopts Enforced disappearance Leading politicians and respect for the rights of other Malian political opponents and activists is the worst. ”
Since it took power in the 2021 coup, Mali’s military government has been relentlessly attacking political opposition, peaceful dissent, and relentlessly attacking political opposition, as it took power in 2021 coup Civil societythe media narrowed the country’s civic and political space. The authorities have DissolvePolitics andCivil society Organization, forcibly disappearing politicians, Reporter arbitrary arrest reporterand Political rivals and forced to score exile.
Daouda Magassa was kidnapped by a man in civilian costumes in the Mali capital of Bamako, according to a credible source from Human Rights Watch on February 5, 2025. Magassa is a critic of the military government and a member of the movement, association and supporters of Imam Mahmoud Dicko (Association and Supporters), Assopiosions et compassions et compassions de l’imam Mahmoud Dicko, CMMAS, has been calling for him The group has been calling for the presidential election as part of the restoration of democratic rule in Mali.
Magassa’s family and colleagues did not contact him and authorities failed to formally respond to their request for information. On February 11, French Radio reported that Magassa was held at the National Security Agency (Agence nationale de lasécurité d’état, anse, Anse).
In March 2024, the government Dissolve The CMA accused it of “undermining public safety and threats”. Magassa’s Enforced disappearanceThe supporters of the group are here Call up To return to the head of CMA, Mahmoud Dicko and an influential religious figure, who left Mali provided Algeria to Algeria in December 2024.
On December 28, 2024, at least two men in civilian costumes claimed to be gendarmerie, kidnapped Ibrahim Nabi Dogola on a street in Bamako. A witness The night before, Togo and other political leaders canceled the next day’s press conference to announce a new opposition coalition due to concerns arrest or other repressed government action.
Until February 10, Doola’s whereabouts remain unknown, although relatives and colleagues said authorities did not respond to inquiries from him or their lawyers.
In June 2024, Human Rights Watch recorded the military police Arrested The 12 members of the country’s main opposition coalition are known as the opposition platform of the March 31 declaration (Plateforme d’Apporte dela Déclaration du 31 Mars). One of the arrested, lawyer and former minister Mohamed Ali Bathilyissued June 21. Eleven other people face charges issued bail.
At least 11 people are currently being detained for politically motivated reasons, lawyers and party members told Human Rights Watch. These include three members of the opposition party, Democracy and Independence, Solidarité African Pour pour ladé mocratie etl’Indépendance, Sadi, who were arrested in Bamako in June 2023 Exposed Military abuse. October 2024, African Court of Human Rights order Malian authorities released the three men, but their lawyers said they were still in prison.
Man in civilian costume arrested in Bamako political commentator Issa Kaou N’djim on November 13, 2024 Made Critical comments about Burkina Faso’s military rulers in a show aired by local TV station Joliba. n’djim is SentencedTwo years in prison, Mali’s national communications regulator withdrawJoliba TV News license.
January 2, 2025, Security Forces ArrestedOpposition member Seydina Touré is located in Segou, central Mali. He was accused of “inciting public illness” and “trying to discredit the state”, among other charges. His trial is scheduled to take place on March 7.
“What we see is a total denial of any legal process, or a blatant abuse of the law for political purposes,” said the main members of the Sadi Party. “By disappearing or arbitrarily arresting outspoken political opponents and activists, the government aims to make all This form of objection collapses.”
Mali is attending the party International Convention on Protecting All Persons from Forced Disappearance. Forced disappearance is defined as a state official or his agent arresting or detaining a person, and then refusing to admit deprivation of liberty or revealing the person’s situation or whereabouts. The uncertainty of the family life of the person who has been forcibly disappeared without knowing whether their loved ones are safe and imprisoned. People who forcibly disappear are vulnerable to widespread abuse, including life-threatening.
So is MaliAfrican Charter of Human Rights (African Charter)This guarantees the right to freedom, security and freedom from arbitrary detention, the right to cruel, inhuman or degraded treatment, and the right to express and disseminate opinions in the law.
“The junta in Mali has done its best to stifle political opposition and any form of criticism,” Ngari said. “The African Commission on Human Rights and People’s Rights should urge the Malian authorities to abide by their human rights obligations in order to respect, protect, promote, promote and fulfill speech, The freedom of opinions and associations.”
Published by Apo Group on behalf of Human Rights Watch (HRW).
