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Amnesty International warned on Wednesday that military authorities in West Africa have been increasingly using enforced disappearances as a means of repression against civil and political activists who criticize the government.
The organization noted that the military and security forces in Mali, Niger, Guinea, and Burkina Faso resorted to unlawful detentions and enforced disappearances to silence activists and journalists who opposed those in power. Victims included activists, journalists, lawyers, and members of civil society perceived as adversaries of the ruling authorities.
Amnesty International additionally reported several cases of civil society activists who were kidnapped by unidentified groups for their activism and opposition to military rule. One notable case involved two Guinean activists, Mamadou Billo Bah and Oumar Sylla, who were kidnapped and unlawfully detained by armed soldiers in July 2024. A similar incident occurred in Niger in December 2024 when a civil society leader named Moussa Tchangari was arrested by military authorities without any justification or an official arrest warrant.
The organization further highlighted that armed groups, who may or may not claim to represent the State, abducted individuals from the streets, workplaces, or their homes and loaded them into unmarked vehicles for detention at undisclosed locations for extended periods. Amnesty International stated that these arrests were conducted without warrants or due legal process, and no information was provided regarding the fate or location of the detainees. According to the rights organization, these practices aim to instill fear among individuals and suppress governmental criticism.
Additionally, Amnesty International noted that the kidnapping and unlawful detention of civil society activists often resulted in fabricated legal proceedings against the victims and may even lead to the enlistment of detainees into the army to face armed groups at the front. Therefore, the organization urged the authorities of these West African countries to put an end to enforced disappearances. It emphasized that the judiciary plays a crucial role in combating these illegal practices by investigating enforced disappearances and holding accountable those responsible. However, this requires increased support from the international community to strengthen the justice systems in West African countries and maintain the rule of law.
The human rights situation in Mali, Guinea, Niger, and Burkina Faso has sparked international concern as it continues to deteriorate following military coups in each of these countries. Human rights organizations reported ongoing abuses in Niger in March 2025, which included arbitrary detention, press censorship, and crackdowns on freedom of expression, following the 2023 military coup that ousted former President Mahmoud Bazoum. Similar abuses have been reported in Mali, where Human Rights Watch (HRW) documented military crackdowns on political dissent and several cases of enforced disappearances. The organization also noted that pro-government militias in Burkina Faso were involved in the massacre of dozens of civilians.
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The organization noted that the military and security forces in Mali, Niger, Guinea, and Burkina Faso resorted to unlawful detentions and enforced disappearances to silence activists and journalists who opposed those in power. Victims included activists, journalists, lawyers, and members of civil society perceived as adversaries of the ruling authorities.
Amnesty International additionally reported several cases of civil society activists who were kidnapped by unidentified groups for their activism and opposition to military rule. One notable case involved two Guinean activists, Mamadou Billo Bah and Oumar Sylla, who were kidnapped and unlawfully detained by armed soldiers in July 2024. A similar incident occurred in Niger in December 2024 when a civil society leader named Moussa Tchangari was arrested by military authorities without any justification or an official arrest warrant.
The organization further highlighted that armed groups, who may or may not claim to represent the State, abducted individuals from the streets, workplaces, or their homes and loaded them into unmarked vehicles for detention at undisclosed locations for extended periods. Amnesty International stated that these arrests were conducted without warrants or due legal process, and no information was provided regarding the fate or location of the detainees. According to the rights organization, these practices aim to instill fear among individuals and suppress governmental criticism.
Additionally, Amnesty International noted that the kidnapping and unlawful detention of civil society activists often resulted in fabricated legal proceedings against the victims and may even lead to the enlistment of detainees into the army to face armed groups at the front. Therefore, the organization urged the authorities of these West African countries to put an end to enforced disappearances. It emphasized that the judiciary plays a crucial role in combating these illegal practices by investigating enforced disappearances and holding accountable those responsible. However, this requires increased support from the international community to strengthen the justice systems in West African countries and maintain the rule of law.
The human rights situation in Mali, Guinea, Niger, and Burkina Faso has sparked international concern as it continues to deteriorate following military coups in each of these countries. Human rights organizations reported ongoing abuses in Niger in March 2025, which included arbitrary detention, press censorship, and crackdowns on freedom of expression, following the 2023 military coup that ousted former President Mahmoud Bazoum. Similar abuses have been reported in Mali, where Human Rights Watch (HRW) documented military crackdowns on political dissent and several cases of enforced disappearances. The organization also noted that pro-government militias in Burkina Faso were involved in the massacre of dozens of civilians.
The post Rights group condemns use of enforced disappearances in West Africa to repress political dissent appeared first on JURIST - News.
Continue reading...
Note: We don't have any responsibilities about this news. Its been posted here by Feed Reader and we had no controls and checking on it. And because News posted here will be deleted automatically after 21 days, threads are closed so that no one spend time to post and discuss here. You can always check the source and discuss in their site.