Month: April 2025

Forced disappearances as tools of repression by west african military regimes

Aïcha Abdou

Military regimes in Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso and Niger are systematically using forced disappearances and illegal detentions to silence critics and suppress dissent. These tactics, widely documented in recent reports, target activists, journalists, lawyers and human rights defenders who challenge military rule or demand a return to constitutional order. In Guinea, two prominent opposition figures—Mamadou Billo Bah and Oumar Sylla (also known as Foniké Menguè)—were abducted from Oumar Sylla’s home just before a nationwide protest against rising living costs and military rule. According to Mohamed Cissé, another detained activist who…

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Mali authorities urged to abandon plan to dissolve political parties

Aïcha Abdou

Why dissolving Mali’s political parties is a dangerous step Ousmane Diallo, a Sahel researcher at Amnesty International’s regional office for West and Central Africa, has strongly criticized a proposal to dissolve all political parties in Mali following consultations on revisions to the Political Parties Charter. He warns that such a move would blatantly violate fundamental rights, including freedom of expression and association. Diallo urges authorities to halt the growing crackdown on civic space and uphold the human rights of all citizens—especially critics, human rights defenders, and opposition members. He emphasizes…

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Mali pioneers hybrid malaria vaccine strategy for children

Aïcha Abdou

In a groundbreaking initiative, Mali has become the first country globally to adopt a hybrid malaria vaccination approach, marking a significant advancement in the fight against one of Africa’s deadliest diseases. This innovative strategy combines routine immunization with seasonal vaccination to maximize protection for children most at risk. On World Malaria Day, the Ministry of Health and Social Development of Mali, in collaboration with Gavi, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization (WHO), launched this pioneering method targeting children aged five to 36 months. The hybrid approach delivers the first three…

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Crackdown on dissent in Burkina Faso targets critical voices

Ousmane Tandja

The Burkina Faso authorities have escalated their crackdown on dissent by listing several journalists and activists—now living in exile—among individuals sought for alleged ties to terrorist-linked criminal associations. What appears to be a legal maneuver is widely seen as a thinly veiled tactic to silence media scrutiny and suppress opposition voices. escalating repression under the guise of counter-terrorism Recent actions by the Burkina Faso government reveal a troubling pattern: the inclusion of critical journalists and activists on a “wanted” list under the charge of “criminal association in relation to a…

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