Human rights situation in Mali: a deepening crisis in 2025

In 2025, Mali faced severe restrictions on fundamental freedoms, including the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association. Political opponents and civil society members faced arbitrary arrests, forced disappearances, and detentions. Government forces, their allies, and armed groups were implicated in unlawful attacks and killings of civilians, while blockades imposed by armed factions disrupted daily life in multiple cities. The conflict also disrupted education, with at least 2,036 schools forced to close, leaving countless children without access to learning.

Political and security context in Mali

The country remained embroiled in instability following the collapse of a peace process boycotted by political parties, civil society, and several armed groups. In February, authorities introduced the National Charter for Peace and Reconciliation, aiming to address the crisis. However, political transition efforts were further complicated in April when the military-led government extended its rule by five years after the 2020 coup.

Security partnerships shifted in June, as the Wagner Group was replaced by the Africa Corps, a Russian state-controlled military entity, under a new security agreement with Mali. The same month, authorities claimed to have foiled a coup attempt, leading to the arrest of several military officers and a French diplomat with alleged intelligence ties.

In September, Mali announced its intention to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), raising concerns about accountability for human rights abuses.

Crackdown on dissent: repression of expression and assembly

The dissolution of all political parties in early 2025 marked a stark escalation in the suppression of civil and political rights. Protests erupting in Bamako in April and May were met with violent crackdowns by security forces. The move drew widespread condemnation, with critics arguing it violated democratic principles and deepened political repression.

Forced disappearances targeting activists and leaders

Civil society leaders and opposition figures continued to face abductions by unidentified armed groups. Among the most notable cases:

• Alou Badra Sacko, coordinator of the February 20th Appeal and president of the civil society movement Touche pas à mon argent, was kidnapped in Bamako on March 14. He had publicly called for the removal of mobile money transaction taxes. After being held in an undisclosed location, he was released on May 24.
• El Bachir Thiam, leader of the Yelema Party, was abducted from his home on May 8. He was released on September 26 after international pressure, including a call for his immediate release by the UN Human Rights Council. Thiam had been a vocal critic of the government’s dissolution of political parties and the prolonged transition.
• Alhassane Abba, secretary-general of the Convergence pour le développement du Mali party, was forcibly taken from his Bamako residence on May 8 by men claiming to be gendarmes. He was freed without charge on June 5.

Arbitrary arrests and detentions amid political repression

Human rights organizations, including the UN Human Rights Council, repeatedly condemned the detention of activists and political figures. Among those targeted:

• Moulaye Baba Haïdara, Mahamoud Mohamed Mangane, and Amadou Togola, detained since 2023 on charges such as “undermining state security” and “harming national unity”. Reports indicated they were subjected to torture while in custody.
• Moussa Mara, former Prime Minister, was arrested in August for a social media post vowing to fight for the rights of detained individuals. Convicted in October of “damaging state credibility” and “opposing legitimate authority”, he was sentenced to one year in prison.
• Clément Dembele, an anti-corruption activist, remained imprisoned despite a court ruling in April to drop charges against him. Originally arrested in 2023 for alleged death threats against the president, the UN Human Rights Council demanded his unconditional release in August.

Armed group violence and civilian targeting

Armed factions intensified attacks on civilians, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. Key incidents included:

• In February, 34 civilians were killed in an attack by the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) on a civilian convoy near Gao, reportedly while under military escort.
• In May, Sidi Barka, a civil society leader, was abducted by ISGS members in Ménaka. His body was found in August near the city’s outskirts.
• Ousmane Kampo, mayor of Konna, was kidnapped by the Group for Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM) while working in his fields. He was released on October 4.
• In August, the Macina Katiba launched an attack on Farabougou, killing civilians and displacing residents. The same month, the mayor of Dogofry and his driver were killed by traditional hunters between Diabaly and Dogofry.
• On November 6, Mariam Cissé, a social media influencer, was abducted by armed men in Echell (Tombouctou region), executed the following day in Tonka, and her body left in a public square.

State forces and allied groups: violations of international law

Government forces and their allies were accused of grave violations, including extrajudicial killings and torture. Notable cases included:

• On March 16, a drone strike by the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) killed at least 10 civilians at a market in Ejdeïr (Tombouctou region).
• In April, FAMa and Wagner-affiliated forces detained over 100 men, primarily from the Fulani community, at a market in Sebabougou (Kayes region). At least 60 were taken to the Kwala military camp (Koulikoro region), where they were tortured and later executed. Decomposed bodies matching the victims’ descriptions were found near the camp a week later.
• On May 12, Malian soldiers and Dogon militias abducted between 23 and 27 men from a weekly market in Diafarabé. Blindfolded and bound, they were transported by canoe to the opposite riverbank, executed, and buried in mass graves. Despite promises of an investigation, no further updates have been released.

Humanitarian impact: education and access under siege

The conflict’s toll on civilians extended to basic rights, particularly education and freedom of movement. The Group for Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM) imposed blockades on key cities, including Gossi, Léré, and Diafarabé, restricting access to food and humanitarian aid. In July, the group extended its blockade to Kayes and Nioro du Sahel, further crippling supply routes from Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire. Trucks transporting fuel and goods were systematically targeted, worsening shortages.

Education under threat

The crisis in Mali’s education system worsened in 2025, with 2,036 schools closed due to insecurity—a rise from 1,984 in June 2024. Over 618,000 children were denied their right to education, with the Kidal region experiencing the highest disruption, as 63% of children were out of school.