Mali: no progress on the case of Soumaïla Cissé six months after his kidnapping
Leader of the Malian opposition, Soumaïla Cissé was kidnapped six months ago on March 25, 2020 (illustrative image) MICHELE CATTANI / AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
4 min
On March 25, 2020, Soumaïla Cissé was kidnapped by armed men in the region of Timbuktu, in his stronghold near Niafunké, in the midst of the legislative campaign.
Six months later, only one proof of life was authenticated: a letter written more than a month ago by the president of the URD party and then sent to his relatives.
The ousted president IBK had promised his return soon in the midst of the Malian political crisis.
But since then, IBK has been removed by the military.
And since the junta came to power, there has been no further progress.
Publicity
Read more
With our correspondent in Bamako,
Coralie Pierret
"
We are in total desolation
", indignant Ibrahima Ndiaye, an executive of Soumaïla Cissé's party.
Because
her family has been waiting for answers for
six months
.
His state of health worries.
And his relatives wonder if he has access to his medication.
Meanwhile, the negotiations are slipping.
Since the disappearance of Soumaïla Cissé, several personalities seem to have been involved in the discussions, including Imam Dicko, confirm several sources.
Were they disturbed by
the coming to power of the junta
?
One thing is certain: "
nothing has changed,
" continues Ibrahima Ndiaye.
There would be blockages in particular around the prisoners claimed by the kidnappers.
They want in exchange the release of detainees imprisoned elsewhere than in Mali in the sub-region, assure several political sources.
At the outset, the then Foreign Minister Tiébilié Dramé mentioned Hamadou Kouffa's katiba Macina.
For Moctar Sy, spokesperson for the collective that works for the release of Soumaila Cissé, "
he would be hostage to a group loyal to Iyad Ag Ghali
" the boss of Ansar Dine and GSIM, the Support Group for Islam and Muslims.
With the current situation, the question of Soumaïla Cissé has fallen into oblivion.
We do not see any action, no communication for the release of Soumaïla Cissé.
No one knows what is going on today.
We made a statement to the CNSP which went unanswered.
We have not had any contact.
Moctar Sy, president of the support collective for Soumaïla Cissé
Coralie Pierret
Newsletter
Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
Mali
On the same subject
Mali: Goodluck Jonathan meets the head of the junta and the president of the transition
Africa press review
In the spotlight: will ECOWAS lift its sanctions against Mali?