Journalist Aliou Touré finally broke his silence after being held captive by armed men for five long days. With the world’s media eagerly waiting, Touré took to the podium in Bamako to recount his harrowing ordeal. The editor of Le Démocrate, who was kidnapped on April 6th, spoke briefly, but his words were powerful enough to send shockwaves across the nation.
Kidnapped on April 6 in Bamako, Malian journalist Aliou Touré was found “free” on Monday, April 10 in the Malian capital. He was presented this Tuesday at a press conference in Bamako and we don’t know a little more about what should now be called his abduction by armed men.
Smiling, his face devoured by a beard, Aliou Touré briefly took the floor to thank all those who contributed to his release. Local colleagues then recounted the facts. Last Thursday, in the Malian capital, the editor of the newspaper Le Démocrate was about to get into his vehicle when he was kidnapped by armed and hooded men. He is driven into another vehicle which speeds off.
Until his release on Monday, he does not know where he has been detained. He doesn’t know the team that kidnapped him. Speaking to journalists, the head of the Bamako press office said: “When you can disappear like this, the perpetrators of these practices, whether they are official or unofficial groups, do not honor the Republic or democracy and that does not help the transition. He continues: “To love your country is to protect its image. Loving one’s country also means avoiding negative behaviors being projected onto the outside world. »
The President of the Bamako Press House concludes: “Anyway, whoever is responsible for this practice, an accusing finger will be pointed at the State, which has the responsibility to protect us. »