Human Rights Crisis in Mali: A 2025 Overview

In 2025, Mali continues to grapple with a deepening human rights crisis, marked by severe restrictions on fundamental freedoms. Authorities have further clamped down on freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association, with political opponents and civil society members facing arbitrary arrests, forced disappearances, and detentions. Both government forces and allied armed groups have been implicated in unlawful killings and violent attacks against civilians. Additionally, militant factions have imposed severe blockades, crippling access to essential services in several urban centers. As of mid-2025, over 2,036 schools remain shuttered due to the escalating conflict, depriving countless children of their right to education.

Political and Security Landscape in Mali

The country’s political transition, initiated after the 2020 military coup, has encountered significant setbacks. A prior peace process collapsed after being boycotted by political parties, civil society groups, and certain armed factions. In response, authorities introduced the National Charter for Peace and Reconciliation in February 2025, aiming to restore stability. However, the political transition period was controversially extended by five years in April, raising concerns about democratic governance.

In June, the Russian-backed Africa Corps replaced the Wagner Group as Mali’s primary security partner, following a bilateral agreement with the Russian Ministry of Defense. This shift underscores Mali’s growing reliance on external military support amid ongoing security challenges.

August saw authorities foil an alleged coup attempt, leading to the arrest of multiple military officers, including a French diplomat suspected of ties to French intelligence services. The same month, Mali announced its withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), a move that has drawn international scrutiny regarding accountability for human rights abuses.

Suppression of Political Freedoms

The dissolution of all political parties in early 2025 has intensified repression, with authorities systematically targeting dissent. In April and May, security forces violently dispersed protests in Bamako, where demonstrators condemned the ban on political organizations. The crackdown reflects a broader pattern of silencing opposition voices and restricting civic engagement.

Forced Disappearances: A Growing Threat

Civil society leaders and political figures have been subjected to forced disappearances, with little transparency surrounding their fate. Notable cases include:

• Alou Badra Sacko, coordinator of the February 20th Appeal and president of the civil society movement Touche pas à mon argent, was abducted in central Bamako on March 14. He had publicly advocated for the removal of taxes on mobile financial transactions before his disappearance. Sacko was released on May 24 after over two months in captivity.
• El Bachir Thiam, leader of the Yelema Party, was forcibly taken from his home on May 8. His whereabouts remained unknown for months until his release on September 26, following international pressure from the UN Human Rights Council. Thiam had been a vocal critic of the government’s decision to dissolve political parties and extend the transition.
• Alhassane Abba, Secretary-General of the Convergence for Mali’s Development Party, was kidnapped from his Bamako residence on May 8 by armed assailants posing as gendarmes. He was freed on June 5 without formal charges being filed.

Arbitrary Arrests and Detentions

The UN Human Rights Council has repeatedly called for the release of detained activists, including Moulaye Baba Haïdara, Mahamoud Mohamed Mangane, and Amadou Togola, who have endured torture while in custody since 2023. Their detention stems from charges such as undermining state security and inciting national division.

Moussa Mara, former Prime Minister, was arrested in August for a social media post vowing to fight for the rights of detained individuals. Convicted of defaming state institutions and opposing legitimate authority, he was sentenced to one year in prison in October.

Clément Dembele, an anti-corruption activist, remains incarcerated despite a court ruling in April to drop the charges against him. Initially accused of threatening the president and his family in 2023, his continued detention has drawn condemnation from human rights organizations.

Violence by Armed Groups

Armed factions have intensified attacks on civilians, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. Key incidents include:

• In February, 34 civilians were killed in an attack by the Islamic State in the Greater Sahel (EIGS) on a civilian convoy near Kobé, close to Gao. The convoy was reportedly under military escort.
• Sidi Barka, a prominent civil society leader, was abducted in Ménaka by EIGS members in May. Local reports confirmed his body was discovered outside the city in August.
• Ousmane Kampo, mayor of Konna in the Mopti region, was kidnapped while working in his fields in May by the Support Group for Islam and Muslims (SGIM). He was released on October 4.
• In August, militants from the Macina Katiba launched a deadly assault on Farabougou in Dogofry, seizing military positions and killing civilians. The attack triggered a mass exodus. Later that month, the mayor of Dogofry, Modibo Kimbiri, and his driver were fatally shot by traditional hunters between Diabaly and Dogofry.
• On November 6, Mariam Cissé, a social media influencer, was abducted in Echell, Tombouctou region. The following day, her captors transported her to Tonka, where she was executed and her body publicly displayed.

Humanitarian Law Violations by State Forces

Government-backed forces have also been accused of grave breaches of international humanitarian law, including torture and extrajudicial killings. Disturbing incidents include:

• On March 16, at least 10 civilians were killed in a drone strike by the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) in Ejdeïr, Tombouctou, during a market day.
• In April, FAMa and Wagner-affiliated forces detained around 100 men, primarily from the Fulani community, at a market in Sebabougou, Kayes. Approximately 60 were taken to the Kwala Military Camp in Koulikoro, where they were tortured. Many were later executed, and their bodies were found decomposing near the camp a week later.
• On May 12, Malian soldiers accompanied by Dozos militiamen arrested 23 to 27 men at the weekly market in Diafarabé. Bound and blindfolded, the men were transported by pirogue to the opposite riverbank, where they were executed and buried in mass graves. Despite promises of an investigation, no updates have been provided.

Economic and Social Rights Under Siege

The Support Group for Islam and Muslims (SGIM) has imposed blockades on multiple towns, including Gossi, Léré, and Diafarabé, severely restricting access to food and movement. In July, the group announced additional restrictions on fuel transport from Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire, targeting fuel tankers in western and central Mali.

Education Crisis Deepens

The education sector has been devastated by the conflict, with 2,036 schools closed as of June 2025—a significant increase from 1,984 in June 2024. Over 618,000 children are out of school, with the Kidal region experiencing the highest rate of child disenrollment at 63%.