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MALI WHISTLEBLOWER ARREST RAISES FEARS OF ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCE

Nairobi, March 10, 2024

Mali’s military authorities have arrested a colonel from the gendarmerie who recently published a book about abuses by the Malian armed forces, sparking concerns of an enforced disappearance. Human Rights Watch has expressed alarm at the development.

Colonel Alpha Yaya Sangaré Arrested

According to sources, including one who spoke to Human Rights Watch, Colonel Alpha Yaya Sangaré was abducted from his home in Bamako on March 2 and taken away in a vehicle without a license plate. The military has since confirmed his arrest but refused to disclose where he is being held.

“Mali’s Military Has Responded to Allegations of Serious Abuses by Going After the Whistleblower Instead of Addressing the Abuses Themselves”**

Ilaria Allegrozzi, senior Sahel researcher at Human Rights Watch:

  • The authorities should immediately announce where Colonel Sangaré is being held and safely release him.

Background: Sangaré’s Book Exposing Human Rights Abuses

Sangaré’s arrest comes in the wake of his book, Mali: The Challenge of Terrorism in Africa, which exposed human rights abuses by the Malian armed forces in their fight against Islamist armed groups. The book included extracts from a 2017 Human Rights Watch report on extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture, and arbitrary arrests.

Government Response

Mali’s defense minister had earlier denounced Sangaré’s book, saying it contained “false accusations” against the Malian armed forces. The minister of territorial administration also criticized the book.

Broader Crackdown on Peaceful Dissent

The arrest is seen as part of a broader crackdown on peaceful dissent, political opposition, and the media by Mali’s military junta. In recent weeks, the authorities have:

  • Dissolved several civil society organizations
  • Arrested activists for speaking out against human rights abuses

Whistleblower Protection Needed

Sangaré’s case highlights the need for strong whistleblower protection laws in Mali to safeguard those who speak out about government wrongdoings.

Ilaria Allegrozzi, senior Sahel researcher at Human Rights Watch:

  • Colonel Sangaré took a bold step by choosing not to remain silent in the face of human rights abuses.
  • This case highlights the need for the government to protect those who publicly disclose wrongdoing.