Families of the missing are raising urgent questions about the whereabouts, conditions, and legal status of their detained relatives. They demand transparency, insisting that if any wrongdoing is alleged, cases must be transferred to the judicial system. Meanwhile, supporters of Mali’s transitional authorities argue that national security and the fight against terrorism justify such measures.

State interests above all

«There is a military prosecutor’s investigation underway, requiring exceptional resources,» explains Tiambel Guimbayara, a Malian journalist and editor-in-chief of La voix du Mali, a vocal supporter of the current regime. State interests allow for any necessary action to ensure national security. The April 25 attacks, which claimed the life of Defense Minister General Sadio Camara—a key figure in the system—demand decisive measures. In my view, state interests must prevail, especially in exceptional circumstances and against the backdrop of terrorist threats.»

Preserving Mali’s integrity in the fight against terror

This stance contradicts Mali’s Constitution and international obligations, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Both treaties emphasize the balance between a state’s right to self-protection and its duty to uphold citizens’ rights, as noted by Jean-François Akandji-Kombé, a professor at Sorbonne University and an expert in international and African community law.

«While the Malian state has every legitimacy to protect the nation from terrorism,» states Professor Akandji-Kombé, it cannot suspend fundamental freedoms or sidestep due process. The right to a fair trial, the presumption of innocence, and access to legal representation are non-negotiable. These rights are essential for maintaining social cohesion and ensuring the state does not lose its moral compass in the fight against terrorism and other national threats.»

Observers warn that the regime may be exploiting the April 25 attacks and the hunt for alleged accomplices as a pretext to eliminate political opponents advocating for democracy.

Over the past three weeks, multiple disappearances have occurred without any official statement from the transitional authorities.

The collective of lawyers representing the family of Mountaga Tall, a prominent lawyer, issued a statement expressing «deep consternation» following the abduction of his son, Cheikh Mamadou Tall, on May 16. The group calls on «competent administrative and judicial authorities to take all necessary steps to secure the release of both individuals and clarify the circumstances of their disappearance.»