Several UN experts on Monday urged Malian authorities to immediately free activist Clement Dembele, who has been jailed since November 2023. Dembele, an academic and anti-corruption activist, had been accused of issuing death threats against Mali’s military leader, General Assimi Goita. The accusation against him was based on an audio message shared on social media, where he was said to be making threats.
An independent forensic expert, tasked with authenticating the recording, concluded that the voice was definitively not that of Dembele. A judge from Mali’s National Cybercrime Unit subsequently dismissed the case, prompting prosecutors to quickly issue an appeal.
The UN experts said this case reflects a persistent and escalating pattern of human rights violations against critics in Mali. A court order authorizing Dembele’s release was officially issued, but the UN experts stated he still remains in jail.
The experts added that his continued detention may amount to a clear misuse of the judicial system by the government. Mali’s military rulers, in power since coups in 2020 and 2021, have ramped up their pressure on all critics.