The officer was in the crosshairs of the Malian Ministry of Defense which castigated passages of his work Mali: challenge of terrorism in Africawhich incriminates the army.
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With our regional correspondent, Serge Daniel
It was at his home in Bamako that Colonel Apha Yaya Sangaré was arrested without a warrant. A military source justifies: “ He is a soldier, the mandatory arrest is provided for by the texts. No need for a warrant. » After the publication of his book entitled Mali: challenge of terrorism in Africathe Malian Ministry of Defense announced sanctions against the author.
Several passages of the work have in fact greatly displeased the hierarchy. Citing in particular reports from international associations for the defense of human rights, the colonel writes: “ Since 2016, the FDS [Forces de défense et de sécurité, NDLR] committed abuses against people accused of being part of terrorist groups. »
In his defense, those close to him explain that in fact the book is largely the summary of his doctoral thesis. And as a precautionary measure, he used the conditional tense to report the comments of an organization like Human Rights Watch.
At the book signing session, in the front row, another colonel, Abdoulaye Maïga, minister of state and promotional friend of the author. As soon as the controversy broke out, he distanced himself in a press release.