CIVICUS speaks with Nafissatou Maiga, coordinator of the Association of Young People for the Development of Sangarebougou/Women and Initiatives for Development (AJDS/FID-MALI), about the state of civic space in Mali since the 2021 military coup.
AJDS/FID-MALI brings together two Malian civil society organisations (CSOs) committed to the defence of human rights and freedom of expression, with a specific focus on women and young people.
To what extent have civic freedoms been respected since the 2021 military coup?
Following the 2021 military coup, at least in theory freedoms of association, expression and peaceful assembly were not formally banned by the authorities. In practice, however, there has been an atmosphere of fear and repression that discourages many people from expressing themselves freely.
Although associations are not officially banned, fear of reprisals and repression has led many people to hesitate over joining or becoming actively involved in CSOs or political groups. Members of these associations may fear being monitored or targeted by the authorities.
Although freedom of expression is guaranteed by law, the reality on the ground is often very different. People are often afraid to express themselves openly, particularly on social media, for fear of reprisals. The often-abusive application of the cybercrime law, which criminalises some types of online speech, has helped to reinforce this culture of fear.
Even though peaceful demonstrations and gatherings are not explicitly banned, the authorities often use states of emergency or other pretexts to restrict or deter gatherings.
Overall, although civil liberties are not officially restricted, fear of reprisals and real or perceived repression have created a climate of self-censorship among people, thus compromising the exercise of these fundamental rights.
What’s the situation for the media and journalists?
Conditions for the media and journalists have deteriorated sharply, particularly for those who express opinions that differ from those of the authorities. Although there are no precise figures, several journalists and commentators have been imprisoned for expressing opinions considered to be offences against the state. A striking example is that of well-known commentator Mohamed Youssouf Bathily, who was placed in preventive detention and remains in prison to this day. This crackdown on dissenting voices creates a climate of fear and insecurity for independent journalists and seriously compromises press freedom.
In a recent development, the High Authority for Communications suspended numerous media outlets, including international media such as RFI and France 24. In addition, national media such as Djoliba TV have been temporarily suspended. As a result, access to information and diversity of opinion have been restricted.
At a time when the media and journalists most need to organise and work together to protect themselves, it is becoming increasingly difficult for them to do so. The restrictions imposed by the authorities make coordination difficult. Pressure on dissenting voices and threats of repression limit their ability to come together and act collectively to defend their rights.
The withdrawal of funding intended to support civil society by countries such as France also weakens the ability of media and journalists to benefit from external financial and technical support. This limits their ability to carry out advocacy and awareness-raising activities, and to build their capacity to deal with repression.
Lack of adequate international support, both financial and diplomatic, further isolates Malian media and journalists in their fight for press freedom and the protection of human rights. Lack of international solidarity can also reinforce the authorities’ sense of impunity and worsen the situation of the media and journalists.
What needs to be done to restore civic and democratic freedoms?
Faced with the challenges described, it is crucial that the international community step up its efforts to support Mali’s independent media and journalists in difficulty, providing them with financial, technical and diplomatic support to strengthen their resilience and ability to defend press freedoms and human rights.
International organisations must also increase their financial and technical support to CSOs defending freedom of expression and human rights in Mali. This support will strengthen their capacity to document human rights violations, provide legal assistance to victims and advocate for democratic reforms.
Do you think that the promised democratic transition will take place in 2024?
As far as the promised transition is concerned, recent events, in particular the absence of any mention of the organisation of elections in the Finance Bill and discussions on Mali’s exit from the Economic Community of West African States, the regional political and economic organisation, raise concerns about the authorities’ willingness to honour their democratic commitments. This is why I am pessimistic about the possibility of democratic elections being held in 2024.
In this context, it is essential that the international community remains vigilant and continues to exert diplomatic pressure to ensure that Malian authorities respect their commitment to restoring democracy and human rights.
Civic space in Mali is rated ‘repressed’ by the CIVICUS Monitor.
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