Author: Aïcha Abdou

Mali’s judicial system targets former PM in free speech case In Bamako, the capital of Mali, former Prime Minister Moussa Mara stood calmly in court last Tuesday as judges dismissed his legal team’s request for provisional release. Instead, prosecutors pushed for a two-year prison sentence—an outcome that underscores the military junta’s ongoing crackdown on political opposition and dissent in the country. Click to expand Image A social media post sparks legal trouble Security forces arrested Moussa Mara—who served as Prime Minister for eight months between 2014 and 2015—on August 1st.…

When the notorious Russian mercenary group Wagner declared its departure from Mali earlier this year, it proclaimed on social media that its “mission was accomplished.” However, after three and a half years of counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations, their impact proved disastrous. The Sahelian nation of Mali regrettably continues to be recognized as a global epicenter of terrorism. “Despite its combat-ready reputation and occasional claims of public successes in Mali, the Wagner Group’s strategy has been plagued by a series of failures,” stated the investigative organization The Sentry in an August…

UN warns of growing authoritarianism and repression in Mali The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has raised urgent concerns about the deteriorating political situation in Mali, where democratic processes are being eroded under an increasingly repressive regime. The alarm was sounded following a series of legal and institutional changes implemented by the military junta since 2020, consolidating power in the hands of General Assimi Goïta. These measures have effectively closed the door on any democratic elections in the foreseeable future, according to Volker Türk. Indefinite suspension…

Click to expand Image On September 1st, Burkina Faso’s transitional legislative assembly passed a bill criminalizing consensual same-sex relationships, marking a significant setback for LGBTQ+ rights in the country. Under the new legislation, individuals convicted of homosexuality face up to five years in prison and substantial fines. This move infringes upon the fundamental rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals, including their rights to non-discrimination and privacy. It was enacted amid a broader tightening of civic space and political repression by the military junta against opposition groups, media outlets,…

Forced disappearance of human rights defenders Miphal Ousmane Lankoandé and Amadou Sawadogo in Burkina Faso In a deeply troubling development, two prominent human rights defenders, Miphal Ousmane Lankoandé and Amadou Sawadogo, have been forcibly disappeared in Burkina Faso amid escalating repression against civil society. Their sudden abductions have sent shockwaves through the human rights community, raising urgent concerns about their safety and well-being. © Balai citoyen Timeline of distressing events The crisis unfolded rapidly, beginning with the abduction of Miphal Ousmane Lankoandé, a sociologist and executive secretary of the Balai…

Empowering Sickle Cell Warriors: How Dr. Gloria Damoaliga Berges Is Transforming Care in Burkina Faso Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso — With a prevalence rate of 4.63% and nearly 2% of newborns diagnosed with the severe SS form, sickle cell disease remains a critical public health challenge in Burkina Faso. This inherited blood disorder demands urgent, multisectoral action to address its devastating physical, psychological, and socioeconomic impacts across the nation. At the forefront of this fight is Dr. Gloria Damoaliga Berges, Vice President of the Centre d’Initiative contre la Drépanocytose au Burkina…