Bamako, May 2026. Since the April 25-26 attacks in Mali, a disturbing wave of enforced disappearances has swept through political circles. Opposition figures and human rights defenders now face intensified harassment, with three prominent activists abducted in Bamako between May 2 and 5 by armed, hooded men in unmarked vehicles.
Among the victims are Me Mountaga Tall, a renowned lawyer and democratic leader; Moussa Djiré (Abba), head of the Yiriba 223 movement; and Youssouf Daba Diawara, former coordinator of the Mahmoud Dicko Support Coordination (CMAS). Their current whereabouts remain unknown, fueling fears of state-sanctioned abductions. Investigative patterns mirror past cases linked to the National Security Agency (ANSE), which has faced repeated accusations of forced disappearances since 2021—yet no judicial inquiries have been initiated.
«These disappearances signal a dangerous escalation in the suppression of dissent in Mali. Authorities must immediately disclose the detainees’ status, ensure their safety, and launch transparent investigations», demanded Drissa Traoré, Secretary-General of the FIDH. «Using abductions and hate speech to address security crises is unacceptable. Counterterrorism efforts cannot justify abandoning the rule of law.»
Surge in inflammatory rhetoric and threats
The FIDH warns of a growing climate of intimidation, with public calls for violence and death threats targeting exiled activists, journalists, and their families. Social media platforms have become battlegrounds for orchestrated campaigns to silence critics, including demands for stripping dissidents of citizenship. During the funeral of Defense Minister General Sadio Camara—killed in the April attacks—CNT member Aboubacar Sidiki Fomba publicly incited violence, urging the killing of foreign-based critics and revocation of their nationality. Despite a prosecutor’s condemnation of online hate speech, no legal action has been taken against the perpetrators.
This repression follows the 2020-2021 coups and the May 2025 dissolution of political parties—actions violating Mali’s own constitution. The April 25-26 attacks, claimed by the Support Group for Islam and Muslims (JNIM) and the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), left civilians and military personnel dead. While condemning these atrocities and civilian-targeted assaults in villages like Kori-kori and Gomossogou, the FIDH also highlights the Malian state’s role in perpetuating human rights violations through arbitrary detentions and unchecked security forces.
The FIDH reiterates its call for all conflict parties to respect international humanitarian law and human rights. It urges the international community to prioritize sustainable solutions for the Sahel crisis, ensuring civilian protection amid the dual threats posed by armed groups and state security forces. Authorities are pressed to halt forced disappearances, end arbitrary detentions, and investigate incitement to violence without delay.
