ARTICLE 19 welcomes the release of the journalist and activist El Bachir Thiam on 25 September 2025. El Bachir Thiam was kidnapped by unknown individuals on 8 May 2025, in Kati, near Bamako, sparking fears for his safety. Now that El Bachir is free, we call on the Malian authorities to ensure that his release is the first step towards guaranteeing the safety of all journalists, restoring a climate of trust, fostering a more open civic space and upholding democratic principles in Mali.
El Bachir Thiam’s release is a positive sign illustrating Mali’s commitment to honouring its obligations of ensuring the physical security of its citizens and respecting their human rights in the fight against terrorism and the management of the security crisis. We call for sustained efforts to ensure that all people detained incommunicado or forcibly disappeared in the context of a security crisis are released, in accordance with international human rights law,” said Alfred Nkuru Bulakali, Regional Director of ARTICLE 19 West Africa.
ARTICLE 19 recalls that Articles 2, 4, 14, and 15 of the Malian Constitution guarantee the sacredness of the human person, the prohibition of torture, respect for fundamental freedoms and freedom of the press.
Similarly, Articles 4 and 6 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR) protect all persons against arbitrary arrest and detention, while Articles 9, 10 and 11 enshrine the freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly.
Mali, as a state party to these instruments, has a positive obligation to prevent, investigate and punish any enforced disappearances or unlawful detentions, including those committed in the context of the fight against terrorism or security crises.
In the case of El Bechir, responsibility for his disappearance has not yet been established by an authorised body. Malian authorities must clarify the circumstances of the kidnapping and bring those responsible to justice.
Since his disappearance on 8 May 2025, El Bachir’s family had not had access to him or been informed of his whereabouts. According to international law, accurate information on the detention of any person deprived of liberty, including their place of detention, must be made promptly available to family members and all those with a legitimate interest as stated in the Articles 17 and 18 of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.
Secret or incommunicado detention may amount to enforced disappearance when relatives or other persons with a legitimate interest do not have access to information on the whereabouts of the disappeared person or are not permitted to verify the information provided, according to Article 66 of the ACHPR; the Principles and Guidelines on Human Rights and Peoples’ Rights in the Fight against Terrorism in Africa and the Human Rights Council’s Joint Study on Global Practices Regarding the Use of Secret Detention in the Context of Counter-Terrorism.
An enforced disappearance occurs when a person is deprived of their liberty without acknowledgment, thereby removing them from the protection of the law – even if only for a short time. ARTICLE 19 emphasises that enforced disappearance involves the violation of numerous rights, including the right to liberty and physical security, the right to freedom of expression, and the right to access information. This is even more true when it comes to journalists, human rights defenders and civic activists.
According to the Human Rights Council, when a person is subjected to enforced disappearance for exercising or promoting the rights to information, freedom of opinion or expression, or freedom of association or assembly, the enjoyment of these rights is also violated.
As a state party to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and to the ACHPR, Mali should continue taking further measures to implement their provisions, as well as the related principles and recommendations, in order to prevent and address enforced disappearances in the country.
We call for the protection and security of El Bachir, and for support to be provided so that he can resume his journalistic work and be able to exercise his rights to freedom of association and assembly without fear of repression.
While we note the positive signals sent following the release of El Bachir, we make the following recommendations to the Malian authorities:
- Guarantee the safety of journalists so that they can exercise their duty to inform without fear;
- Conduct a prompt, independent, effective, and impartial investigation into the conditions of the abduction and detention of El Bachir Thiam;
- Following the investigation, bring to justice all perpetrators, regardless of rank or status, through fair and competent judicial proceedings;
- Ensure Thiam and his family’s right to the truth about the circumstances of his enforced disappearance, as well as provide adequate reparations, including compensation and protection against future intimidation;
- Ensure strict respect for fundamental freedoms, including the right to freedom of expression and association, as guaranteed by international human rights law.
Background
On 7 May 2025, El Bachir Thiam, a journalist and political activist from the Yelema party (dissolved in 2024), publicly criticised the ‘infinite transition’ in Mali. He was kidnapped the next day by unknown individuals and held in an undisclosed location for more than four months.
On September 9 2025, United Nations experts have demanded his immediate and unconditional release, describing his disappearance as a flagrant violation of Mali’s international obligations.
El Bachi’s kidnapping is not the first instance of enforced disappearance in Mali. On 19 May 2025, Sidi Barka, president of the civil society organisation in Ménaka and a fervent defender of human rights, was abducted by armed men. Sidi Barka was executed on 20 August 2025, along with other individuals, including Ahmadou Ag Mahamad, a Tuareg shepherd, two Arab citizens, a musician, and other residents of the region. On 2 October 2025, former MP Abdoul Galil Haidara, also the promoter of Ségou-TV, was killed by terrorists on the Tigui-Konobougou road. His vehicle was targeted by shots fired at point-blank range as he attempted to overtake, killing him instantly. On 3 October 2025, Siaka Dembelé, president of the Ségou Regional Council, and his driver were kidnapped by a group of armed men on the Bamako-Ségou Road.
It is clear that citizens in Mali continue to face threats and attacks for their engagement in public and political life, their opposition to abuses committed by armed groups operating in the country, and the resulting insecurity – regardless of whether they belong to the public administration, civil society, or political organisations.