In Mali, civil society in Mopti is demanding the release of four young people arrested after taking part in a demonstration against power cuts. On June 17, a “dead city” day is scheduled in Mopti to protest against untimely power cuts, power cuts that penalize economic life, already undermined by the security context in central Mali. The event is postponed, but some young people still come out to shout their anger in front of the governorate.
Following this concentration of angry young people in front of the governorate, a few days later, for some and a few weeks later for others, four young people were arrested. Since then, they are still in detention. The families of these young people as well as the leaders of the Civil Society of Mopti will deposit, Monday, September 12, a letter to the governorate. They ask the authorities to release these young people.
” It was following this demonstration that the young people were imprisoned. It seems that there have been videos of insults or the like against the governor and we ask his indulgence, if there have been insults. Insults, we condemn them, but today, with the instability and the current crisis, no one needs to make this situation even worse. One has a lawyer, but the other three have no lawyer. Not all the lawyers contacted in Mopti are available to handle the file. We appeal to the governor. Young people asked for forgiveness, families asked for forgiveness. He must accept it for the interest of all Moptitians and all of Mali “, Calls Hamadou Bah, spokesman for the New Hope Alliance which brings together civil society organizations in Mopti, joined by RFI.