Amnesty International urged Malian authorities to release immediately the arbitrarily detained dissidents Youssouf Daba Diawara and 11 other opposition politicians in a statement made on Friday.

According to the statement, Malian authorities have been arbitrarily detaining these politicians for solely exercising their human rights, including the right to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association. Youssouf Daba Diawara was the coordinator of the Association of Movements, Friends, and Supporters of Imam Mahmud Dicko (CMAS) until it was dissolved by the authorities in March. On July 12, armed men forced him out of his car in Bamako and took him to the Gendarmerie’s Criminal Investigations Brigade. On Monday, he appeared before a judge and was charged with “opposition to legitimate authority” for participating in a protest against power cuts and inflation on June 7. Last, his trial is scheduled for October 3.

Amnesty International has determined that the detention of Youssouf Daba Diawara and 11 other opposition politicians has been arbitrary given the fact that the Malian government had already lifted the suspension of political activities on July 10. In advocating for the immediate release of Youssouf Daba Diawara, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa stated:

We denounce the arbitrary detention of Youssouf Daba Diawara and other political leaders by the Malian authorities. Despite the lifting of the suspension of political activities on 10 July, there is a growing crackdown on human rights including the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association. The Malian authorities must immediately end their judicial harassment of opposition members and dissenting voices.

Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights provides for the right to liberty and security of person and the prohibition of arbitrary arrest or detention. Mali ratified the covenant in 1974 and has since been a state party.

Previously, on April 10, the government of Mali, led by Colonel Assimi Goïta, had issued a decree establishing the “suspension of political parties and political associations’ activities nationwide until further notice.” This measure was taken just days after several political parties and civil society groups called for presidential elections to be held within a short timeframe, a demand rejected by the Malian authorities who came to power through a coup in 2020. The implementation of this decree clearly impacts several fundamental rights, such as freedom of expression and freedom of association.