Click to expand Image In Bamako, the capital of Mali, former Prime Minister Moussa Mara stood calmly in court on Tuesday as judges denied his legal team’s request for provisional release. Instead, prosecutors pushed for a two-year prison sentence—highlighting the military junta’s ongoing crackdown on political opposition and dissent in the country. Moussa Mara, who […]

Sahel states withdrawal from the international criminal court: a setback for victims and global justice The Global Initiative Against Impunity (GIAI), a coalition of leading human rights organizations including the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Coalition for the International Criminal Court (CCPI), Redress, Trial International, and Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice (WIGJ), has strongly […]

Transforming lives through skilled midwives in Mali Bamako — « I was too embarrassed to discuss contraception. In my community, it’s still a taboo topic. I feared judgment or gossip if I spoke openly about it, » shares Kadidia, a 19-year-old resident of Bamako. Like many young women in Mali, Kadidia faces significant social, cultural, […]

When the notorious Russian private military company, the Wagner Group, announced its withdrawal from Mali earlier this year, it publicly declared via social media that its “mission was accomplished.” However, the reality stands in stark contrast to this claim. Over three and a half years, the group engaged in counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations, yet its […]

Mali: un alarming rise in repression and suspended elections International concerns are mounting over the deteriorating situation in the Republic of Mali. The United Nations Human Rights Office has issued a stark warning regarding the suspension of elections and the escalating crackdown on civil society. Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, has […]

Mali faces growing authoritarianism and rights violations under junta rule In a stark warning to the international community, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has raised serious concerns about the deteriorating political landscape in Mali. The situation has taken a troubling turn under the leadership of General Assimi Goïta, whose administration has systematically […]

Burkina Faso enacts stringent anti-LGBTQ+ legislation On September 1st, Burkina Faso’s transitional legislative assembly passed a controversial anti-homosexuality law that criminalizes consensual same-sex relationships. Under this new legislation, individuals convicted of homosexuality face up to five years in prison and substantial fines, marking a significant setback for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights in the […]

Click to expand Image Earlier this week, the military leadership in Burkina Faso ordered the departure of Carol Flore-Smereczniak, the primary United Nations representative in the nation. She was designated as persona non grata following the release of a critical UN investigation into child rights violations within the country. This expulsion represents the second time […]

Military conscription of critics in Burkina Faso draws global condemnation In early July 2025, Burkina Faso authorities took a significant step by releasing five journalists and a human rights activist who had been illegally conscripted into the military. Their crime? Criticizing the ruling military junta. While their release is a positive development, it underscores a […]