Mali: the concern of families for their relatives arrested during the coup

Text by: RFI Follow

4 min

During the coup d'état of August 18, nearly 20 civilians and soldiers were arrested. Some, to begin with the President of the Republic Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, have been released. But what happens to the others? Families say they have no visitation rights.

Publicity

With our correspondent in Bamako, Serge Daniel

In addition to the overthrown president, one of his collaborators and the former Minister of Finance and the Economy Abdoulaye Daffé were released. But about fifteen other people are still detained.

Among them, Prime Minister Boubou Cissé. He was arrested at the same time as the former president whose place of detention he shared for a while. No member of Boubou Cissé's family has been able to visit him since. No lawyer either. However, according to our information, the relatives of the former Prime Minister bring him the meal, but without being able to give it to him directly.

Other civilians still detained: Moussa Timbiné, ephemeral president of the National Assembly. Nothing official has yet been criticized against these two personalities. Senior army officers are still under arrest. Among them, the former Minister of Defense and that of Security.

Asked by RFI, a source close to the junta affirms that all the detainees have received visits from human rights associations, and are well treated. "  We want to see with our own eyes,  " retorts a relative of one of the detainees.

► Read also: Sanctions of the ECOWAS: "the Malian people are not responsible", according to Imam Dicko

■ What do Bamakois think?

What relationship should prevail between the CNSP soldiers who took power and the M5-RFP coalition? RFI's special envoy, David Baché , put the question to residents of Bamako.

For three months, before the coup, it was they who organized the protest in the streets of Mali. Political parties, unions, religious and civil society organizations: in its diversity, the M5-RFP therefore sees itself as a “  natural partner  ” of the junta which has finally taken power. This is also what Madani Sangaré, entrepreneur, thinks. “  It is the Committee [national for the salvation of the people, training of putschists, editor's note] which ensured the work of M5. But he can't do anything without the M5.  "Dramane Traoré, looking for a job, adds:"  If you see us there, currently at ease, it is thanks to M5-RFP. They were the ones who had the courage. They know the political issues while the military are not gifted in politics, so there have to be people from M5.  "

But others believe, on the contrary, that the CNSP soldiers are now the only ones able to bring about the change expected by the Malians. “  I want us to leave room for young people with the military. Not members of M5, I don't want them to participate. They are old politicians, the same people for years, we need change  ”, Toumani Keita, young graduate. Sitting at his side, Souleymane Diallo follows the same thread: “  I would like the military to take power to lead the country. The M5 are old heads, I wouldn't want them to have the power. The military encourages . "

The junta in power has always assured that it wants to work with the M5-RFP coalition, as with all the Malian forces. But the M5 wants more: to decide on the transition with the CNSP, on an equal footing.

Newsletter Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

• Mali

On the same subject

Mali: rich and concrete exchanges between the junta and the M5-RFP

REPORTAGE

Mali: in Bamako, civil society reflects on political transition

Mali: the political class calls on the Malians to decide their destiny