A deepening human rights crisis in Mali

Mali in 2025

Authorities further tightened their grip on fundamental rights, curtailing freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly, and association. Political opponents and civil society members faced arbitrary arrests, detentions, and forced disappearances. Government forces, along with their allies and various armed groups, were responsible for unlawful attacks and killings of civilians. Several towns were subjected to blockades imposed by armed factions, and the ongoing conflict led to the closure of at least 2,036 schools.

Background

After a previous peace process faltered due to a boycott by political parties, civil society, and some armed groups, the authorities introduced the National Charter for Peace and Reconciliation in February. The political transition period, initiated after the 2020 military coup, was extended by five years in April.

A significant shift in security partnerships occurred in June when the private military company Wagner Group was succeeded by the Africa Corps, an entity supervised by the Russian Ministry of Defence, as part of a security agreement with Mali.

In August, authorities claimed to have thwarted a military coup, leading to the arrest of several army officers and a French diplomat associated with French intelligence. The following month, Mali declared its intent to withdraw from the ICC.

Freedoms of expression, association, and assembly

The ongoing and alarming suppression of rights to free expression, peaceful assembly, and association was starkly highlighted by the authorities’ decision to dissolve all political parties. In April and May, security forces in the capital, Bamako, violently quelled protests that erupted in opposition to this measure.

Forced disappearances

Activists, civil society figures, and political leaders were subjected to forced disappearances by security forces.

On March 14, Alou Badra Sacko, coordinator of the Appeal of February 20 and president of the civil society movement Touche pas à mon argent, was abducted in central Bamako by hooded armed men and taken to a secret location. He had recently called for the removal of taxes on mobile money transactions and was released on May 24.

El Bachir Thiam, a leader of the Yelema party, was taken from his home by unknown individuals on May 8. His whereabouts remained unknown until his release on September 26, following a call from the UN Human Rights Council. Thiam had been a key opponent of the dissolution of political parties and the extension of the political transition.

Also on May 8, Alhassane Abba, secretary-general of the Convergence for the Development of Mali political party, was abducted from his Bamako home by hooded armed men in an unmarked vehicle who claimed to be gendarmes. He was freed on June 5 without being brought before a court.

Arbitrary arrests and detentions

In March, the UN Human Rights Council called for the release of political activists Moulaye Baba Haïdara, Mahamoud Mohamed Mangane, and Amadou Togola, who were reportedly tortured while in custody. They had been detained since 2023 awaiting trial on charges including “undermining the external and internal security of the state” and “harming national unity and state credit.”

Former Prime Minister Moussa Mara was arrested in August after posting on X that he would fight “by all means” for the rights of those detained for their opinions. He was charged with undermining state credit and opposing legitimate authority, receiving a one-year prison sentence in October.

Anti-corruption activist Clément Dembele remained in detention despite a court ruling in April to drop charges and order his release. Arrested in 2023 for allegedly making death threats against the president and his family, the UN Human Rights Council demanded his unconditional release in August.

Abuses by armed groups

Civilians were unlawfully attacked and killed by various armed groups.

In February, media reports indicated that an attack by the Islamic State in the Sahel (ISS) on a civilian convoy near the village of Kobé, close to Gao, resulted in 34 deaths. The convoy had been under the escort of Malian security forces.

Sidi Barka, a civil society leader in the eastern city of Ménaka, was abducted by ISS members in May; his body was reportedly discovered on the city’s outskirts in August.

That same month, Ousmane Kampo, the mayor of Konna in the Mopti region, was kidnapped by members of the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM) while working in his fields, according to media sources. He was released on October 4.

In August, the Macina katiba launched an operation against Farabougou (Dogofry commune), overrunning military positions in an indiscriminate attack that killed civilians and caused a mass exodus. Also in August, Dogofry’s mayor, Modibo Kimbiri, and his driver were killed when traditional hunters fired on their vehicle between Diabaly and Dogofry.

On November 6, social media personality Mariam Cissé was abducted by armed group members in Echell, Timbuktu region. The following day, she was taken to her hometown of Tonka, executed, and her body left in a public square.

Violations of international humanitarian law

The army and its allies were implicated in violations of international humanitarian law, including torture and extrajudicial killings.

On March 16, a market day, a drone strike by the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) killed at least 10 civilians in Ejdeïr, in the Timbuktu region.

On April 12, FAMa members and their Wagner partners arrested about 100 men, mostly from the Fulani community, at a market in Sebabougou village, Kayes region. According to the OHCHR, around 60 were taken to the Kwala military camp in the Koulikoro region and tortured during interrogation. Survivors testified that most were then taken from the camp and extrajudicially executed by firearm. A week later, decomposing bodies believed to belong to some of these men were found near the Kwala camp by relatives.

On May 12, approximately 10 Malian soldiers with Dozo militiamen arrested between 23 and 27 men at the weekly market in the town of Diafarabé. The men were blindfolded, their hands tied, and they were transported by boat across the river, where they were executed and buried in mass graves. Although the army pledged to investigate the “alleged” executions, no further information has been made public.

Economic and social rights

GSIM continued to obstruct access to several towns, including Gossi, Léré, and Diafarabé, infringing on rights such as food security and freedom of movement. In July, the group announced a blockade around Kayes and Nioro du Sahel, two major western cities. That same month, GSIM stated it would systematically restrict fuel supplies from neighboring Sénégal and Côte d’Ivoire, subsequently targeting fuel tankers on roads in western and central Mali.

Right to education

The educational crisis deepened significantly. By June, at least 2,036 schools were deemed non-functional due to insecurity, an increase from 1,984 in June 2024. This left 618,000 children deprived of their right to education. The Kidal region was the most severely affected, with 63% of children out of school.