Mali: Political opponents denounce “terror strategy” used by authorities
Protesters hold signs at Bamako's independence Square on June 4, 2021 as the M5-RFP (Mouvement du 5 juin - Rassemblement des Forces Patriotiques) set a rally to mark its first anniversary. (Photo by Michele Cattani / AFP)
The political opposition leader, Ismael Sacko, spoke to RFI on June 15th, denouncing a “strategy of terror” implemented by the Malian authorities.
During the last few months, many opposition public figures have disappeared or been officially arrested. First Moutaga Tall, a lawyer for human rights and advocating for democracy, was arrested in the middle of the night in early June. Then came multiple different directors of newspapers, such as Abdrahamane Keita, director of the newspaper Le Temoin, who had publicly expressed disapproval that the city of Kidal was in the hands of the JNIM, a jihadist terrorist group linked to Al-Qaida.
Similarly, Chahana Takiou, director of the Malian newspaper 22 Septembre, had criticised on social media and online forums the lack of respect by the Malian government for free speech laws and was arrested early June. Many other religious and political public figures have been arrested, leading to many considering free speech and freedom of opinion at risk in Mali.
Ismael Sacko, political opposition member and president of the now dissolved PSDA party, is a leading voice of the opposition in exile. Member of the CFR, known as Coalition for the Forces of the Republic, they denounce a strategy of fear.
Sacko denounced that the Malian military Junta is elaborating a strategy to suffocate democratic actors, creating a visceral fear of opposing.
Mali’s current situation worries international press communities for its increasingly corrupt and instrumentalised laws. For instance, the country has dropped 20 places in the World Press Freedom Index made by RSF, going from the 99th to the 121st spot in only 6 years, a big loss for a country that used to have a somewhat strong press tradition.
Ismael Sacko added that the Malian opposition is finding other ways to help the population see the situation for what it is, a transitional government that seems not to see a near end to its rule.
A pledge to hand over power to a civilian government by March 2024 was originally made, until the authorities announced a five-year presidential term for Goita, the leader of the military junta, in July 2025. This term can be renewed “as many times as necessary” without holding elections, while the provisional government dissolved all political parties.
RFI, BBC, Maghrebi.org
Want to chase the pulse of North Africa?
Subscribe to receive our FREE weekly PDF magazine
