Dr. Daouda Diallo, the Secretary-General of the Collective Against Impunity and Stigmatization of Communities (CISC), has reportedly been abducted. According to his associates, Dr. Diallo was apprehended on Friday and taken to an undisclosed location. His name was included on a list of individuals forcibly requisitioned.
The incident unfolded around 3:00 pm on Friday when Dr. Daouda Diallo visited the National Police’s Migration Division to renew his expired passport, as explained by a close associate. Upon arrival, several plainclothes individuals surrounded his vehicle and transported him to an as-yet-unknown destination.
The Secretary-General of the Collective Against Impunity and Stigmatization of Communities, also the recipient of the 2022 Martin Ennals Award, had been living in hiding since the release of a list requisitioning about a dozen individuals, including journalists, unionists, civil society actors, and politicians, for the fight against terrorism. He earned the prestigious award for his dedication to upholding human rights.
In a statement, the Collective Against Impunity and Stigmatization of Communities asserted that this forced requisition had a singular objective: “To silence any dissenting voices, to suppress any citizen and organization critical of the management of power.”
This unsettling development underscores the challenges faced by individuals advocating for human rights and criticizing government actions. Dr. Diallo’s abduction raises concerns about the broader implications for civic engagement and freedom of expression in Burkina Faso.
As the international community observes these events, there is a growing call for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding his disappearance and a renewed commitment to safeguarding the rights of those who courageously speak out against injustice.