In Mali, it is still unknown where Oumar Samaké is located. The commander of the special anti-terrorism force (Forsat) was briefly imprisoned on Friday, September 3 after being indicted in particular for…

Release of the head of the Forsat: the police explain themselves, the AMDH is indignant

The divisional commissioner Oumar Samaké was imprisoned at the Central Detention Center in Bamako on Friday before being released by the police (Illustrative image) © MICHELE CATTANIAFP

Text by: RFI Follow

5 mins

In Mali, it is still unknown where Oumar Samaké is located.

The commander of the special anti-terrorism force (Forsat) was briefly jailed Friday September 3 after being indicted in particular for "murders" and "fatal blows" as part of the investigation into the deadly crackdown on the anti-IBK protests of July 2020 But he was released after a few hours following strong protests from the police.

How do the police justify this coup?

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Commissioner Siméon Keita, general secretary of the SNP, the national police union, qualifies the charge of the head of the Forsat as a "

miscarriage of justice

". Contacted by

David Baché

, from the Africa editorial staff of RFI, he explains the reasons which prompted the police to act in this way.

“

The reaction of the police last night

[Friday]

is a feeling of abandonment. Not more than a month ago, police officers who were on mission were all placed under warrant. The police on the whole have said to themselves that at this rate, they will be arrested one by one.
And then when you see the texts of creation of the Forsat, it is placed under the direct command of the Minister of Security and Civil Protection. So the Forsat cannot make a move without the order of it. Between the one who received the order and the one who gave the order who must be stopped? I think that the intention of the police is not to obstruct justice, but it is not the commander who should be arrested in the first place.

At that rate, we'll all end up in jail.

He qualifies, however, by saying that he is not sure that the police would re-mobilize if Oumar Samaké was arrested a second time: "

We would not get there, even if we are determined to defend our corporation because at this rate, we'll all end up in jail.

AMDH indignation

The very different reaction from the Malian Human Rights Association (AMDH).

The association calls for justice in the case of the killings of July 2020, is indignant at the behavior of the police and the release of the commander of the Forsat.

We are initially outraged by this attitude,"

explains its president Me Moctar Mariko

.
It could come from all bodies except the police.
It is they who must help the republican institutions to assume themselves and to have authority.
If the high authorities do not take responsibility, we are heading towards the crumbling of the Republic of Mali.
We are waiting for the authorities to assert themselves and for things to return to normal.

The judges had the courage to take responsibility

For the president of AMDH, Oumar Samaké must be arrested and imprisoned again: “

If we let people act like that, all the bodies will rise up.
When a gendarme, a republican guard, a customs officer, a soldier will be arrested, it will be the same thing.
It is a total confusion which is befalling Mali.
Once justice is really fighting against impunity, we see opposite reactions.
I would say that the judges had the courage to take responsibility.
It now remains for the political authorities to take responsibility in their turn, so that we no longer see this kind of behavior in the Republic of Mali.

►Also read: The Forsat commander indicted for murders, imprisoned, but quickly released

Release of the head of the Forsat: the police explain themselves, the AMDH is indignant

Release of the head of the Forsat: the police explain themselves, the AMDH is indignant

AMDH indignation

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