Families of the missing are raising urgent questions about the whereabouts and conditions of their detained relatives. They demand transparency: if any wrongdoing is alleged, cases must be formally referred to the judiciary. Yet supporters of Mali’s transitional authorities argue that national security imperatives and the fight against terrorism justify these extraordinary measures.

The doctrine of raison d’État

Tiambel Guimbayara, editor-in-chief of La Voix du Mali and a vocal regime ally, defends the government’s approach. “There is an ongoing military prosecutor’s investigation requiring extraordinary resources. The doctrine of raison d’État allows the state to take all necessary steps to safeguard national security—especially after the April 25 attacks that claimed the life of Defense Minister General Sadio Camara, one of the regime’s most pivotal figures. In the face of terrorist threats, state security must take precedence over all other considerations.”

Upholding the soul of the state

Jean-François Akandji-Kombé, Professor of International and Community Law at Sorbonne University, challenges this narrative. He points out that Mali’s own Constitution and international treaties—including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights—establish clear boundaries. “While the Malian state has every right to defend itself against terrorism, it cannot suspend fundamental freedoms or deny detainees their right to a fair trial, presumption of innocence, or legal representation. These rights are not negotiable. They are the bedrock of societal cohesion and the very soul of the state in its struggle against existential threats.”

Observers warn that the regime may be exploiting the post-attack crackdown to silence political opponents advocating for democratic reforms.

Since late April, multiple abductions have occurred with no official acknowledgment from the transitional authorities. The legal team representing the family of prominent lawyer Mountaga Tall issued a statement expressing “profound dismay” following the May 16 disappearance of his son, Cheikh Mamadou Tall. “We call on all competent judicial and administrative authorities to act swiftly to secure their release and clarify the circumstances surrounding their detention.”