Opposition leaders arrested on June 20th, 2024, continue to await their court hearings. Eleven political opposition leaders were detained on Thursday evening during a meeting. While one has been released, the remaining ten, all members of the opposition platform known as the March 31st Declaration, which includes nearly all Malian political parties, are still in custody. According to legal procedures, they should have been presented before a prosecutor but are still waiting.
Legally, suspects can be held for up to 48 hours, with a possible extension to a maximum of 72 hours. This period has now expired, yet the ten opposition leaders remain in the custody of the Judicial Investigation Brigade (BIJ) of the gendarmerie.
Former Minister Mohamed Ali Bathily was released on Friday night, after more than 24 hours of interrogation, due to his status as a lawyer and specific procedural requirements that were not met. It remains to be seen whether he will face further charges or if the case against him will be dropped.
Judicial sources and several members of the March 31st Declaration opposition platform report that the detainees are being treated relatively well. After spending 24 hours on simple chairs, they were provided with mattresses, allowed to shower, and given food. Their lawyers have been able to visit them, and the National Human Rights Commission has also been involved, issuing a statement reminding authorities that “the exercise of civil and political rights is the essence of a democratic state,” particularly highlighting the freedoms of assembly and expression.
The procedural status remains unclear: none of the eleven arrested opposition leaders have officially signed any statements. With the legal duration of their detention exceeded, they are supposed to be brought before an examining magistrate, who is to be designated by the president of the Bamako commune V high court.
The opposition leaders have been questioned regarding “unauthorized assembly” and “attempted destabilization.” However, no specific charges have been formally presented to them at this stage. Their lawyers criticize the authorities for handling a “baseless case.” They were all detained on Thursday night “without a search warrant, in a private residence, and by agents not affiliated with the judicial chain,” according to their legal representatives. These political figures, party leaders, and former ministers were working on the internal regulations of their platform and planning actions such as press conferences and rallies to demand elections and a return to constitutional order.
In early April, a decree suspended all political party and association activities in Mali, officially for “public order reasons.” This decree has faced significant political and legal challenges, being labeled “repressive,” with various legal actions taken to contest it.