UN Experts Demand Release of Malian Political Detainees After Reports of Torture

Medical examinations conducted at Bamako’s central prison confirmed that Haïdara, Mangane, and Togola require urgent and specialized medical treatment.

A group of United Nations human rights experts has called for the immediate and unconditional release of three Malian political activists—Moulaye Baba Haïdara, Mahamoud Mohamed Mangane, and Amadou Togola—citing credible evidence of severe mistreatment and torture during their detention by the country’s intelligence services. The detainees are reportedly in urgent need of specialized medical treatment due to injuries sustained while in custody.

Background and Arrests

The activists, all members of the African Solidarity for Democracy and Independence Party (SADI) and the Movement for Peace in Mali (MPPM), were arrested in 2023 amid a wave of protests against a draft constitution pushed forward by Mali’s transitional authorities. Despite the protests being largely peaceful, security forces allegedly began a campaign of intimidation and harassment against key figures in the opposition, including the three detainees. This culminated in their arrests on separate dates between May and June 2023 by the Agence nationale de la Sécurité d'Etat (ANSE), Mali’s national intelligence agency. They were reportedly held incommunicado at ANSE headquarters for several months before being transferred to the Maison Centrale d’Arrêt de Bamako, a central prison in the capital.

Allegations of Torture and Medical Needs

During their time in ANSE detention, Haïdara, Mangane, and Togola were reportedly subjected to numerous acts of torture, including beatings and electrocution. One of the detainees, Mahamoud Mohamed Mangane, suffered particularly severe abuse, with reports indicating that investigators electrocuted his testicles in an attempt to force confessions. The abuse caused significant physical and psychological harm to all three men.

Medical examinations conducted at Bamako’s central prison confirmed that Haïdara, Mangane, and Togola require urgent and specialized medical treatment. However, the necessary care has been delayed due to their continued detention and the lack of appropriate medical facilities in the prison system.

Legal Efforts and International Pressure

The three detainees turned to the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights for assistance. In July 2024, they filed a case against the Malian government, alleging violations of their fundamental rights. The Court subsequently issued a provisional order in October 2024, calling on Mali to release the detainees and ensure they receive the medical treatment they urgently require. Despite this ruling, the Malian authorities have so far failed to comply, leaving the men still imprisoned and untreated.

UN experts have expressed deep concern over the situation, highlighting that the case reflects a broader pattern of human rights abuses in Mali. Over the past several years, members of opposition political parties, journalists, human rights defenders, and civil society groups have increasingly faced threats, intimidation, and arbitrary detention. The international community, including the UN, has repeatedly called on Mali to uphold its international human rights obligations.

Urgent Call to Action

The UN experts have now publicly urged the Malian government to comply with the African Court’s decision and immediately release Haïdara, Mangane, and Togola. They also call for a thorough review of the charges brought against them, which appear to be rooted in their peaceful exercise of free expression and political dissent. The experts stress that, if the charges are found to be baseless, the activists should be released without further delay.

“This case is emblematic of a troubling trend of escalating human rights violations in Mali,” the UN experts said in a statement. “We urge the Malian authorities to allow these men to receive the medical care they need, and to ensure that fundamental rights—such as freedom of expression and the prohibition of torture—are fully respected.”

The experts have communicated their concerns to the Malian government and are awaiting an official response.