“The authorities in Mali must stop violating human rights in order to be credible,” Human Rights Watch researcher Jean Henri said in a denunciation of illegal arrests, restrictions on freedom of speech and enforced disappearances.

In a report listing several recent human rights violations in Mali, she noted that “the Malian authorities must change this behavior to ensure the credibility of the political transition.” Human Rights Watch deplores the “detentions and harassment of people who may have been opponents” of the military-dominated transitional authorities after two coups (2020, 2021).

The organization pointed out that “these dissidents include Etienne Wakaba Sissoko, an economist who was arrested in January after statements called “subversive” and Omar Mariko, a politician who was “detained for about a month” after criticizing the prime minister. Minister Shuila Kukalu. Mayga. He “has been on the run since April.

Both former minister Fili Bouar Sissoko and former director of the presidential office Muhammadou Camara, accused in a 2015 corruption case, were arrested and detained from August and September 2021, respectively, without trial, the organization said.