Mali’s former Minister of Justice, has been arrested and placed in pre-trial detention amid escalating political tensions in the country.
Mohamed Aly Bathily was initially arrested on June 20 during a private meeting at the home of Moustapha Dicko in Bacodjicoroni, along with ten other political leaders.
Although he was released a few hours later due to his status as a lawyer, Bathily was re-arrested on Friday, July 5, and subsequently held in custody at the premises of the judicial investigation brigade in Bamako.
On Monday, July 8, Bathily appeared before a judge who ordered his continued detention, joining his fellow political leaders already in custody.
The arrested leaders face charges of attempted destabilization, endangering state security, and disturbing public order, stemming from a recent decree that suspends political activities.
The transitional authorities issued this decree at the end of March to facilitate the smooth running of the inter-Malian dialogue, which concluded last May. However, many political actors and civil society organizations have condemned the arrests, arguing that they are attempts to silence the opposition and restrict freedom of expression.
The situation remains tense as calls for the release of the detainees and the dropping of charges continue to grow.
Report by Ismail Ramadan