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October 17, 2025 – Mali –
The press freedom organization ARTICLE 19 has welcomed the release of Malian journalist and activist El Bachir Thiam on 25 September 2025, calling it a “positive signal for civic space.”
Thiam, a former member of the Yélema party, was reportedly kidnapped on 8 May 2025 in Kati, near Bamako, by unknown armed individuals and held in undisclosed detention for over four months. During this period, he was cut off from family contact and his whereabouts remained unknown, raising alarm for enforced disappearance under Malian and international law.
ARTICLE 19 underscored that Mali’s Constitution (Articles 2, 4, 14, 15) and its obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights obligate the state to prevent arbitrary arrest, ensure freedom of expression, and guarantee press freedom. It noted that Thiam’s case reflects a broader pattern of threats to journalism and civil society amid the country’s security crisis and post-coup governance.
Although his release is a welcome development, ARTICLE 19 stressed that it must not stand alone. The organization called on Malian authorities to launch a prompt, independent, effective, and impartial investigation into Thiam’s abduction and detention, ensure reparation for any rights violations, and adopt preventive measures to protect journalists and civic activists going forward.
ARTICLE 19 commented that Thiam’s return presents an opportunity for Mali to restore public confidence, uphold democratic norms, and re-establish a safer environment for journalists. However, the group emphasized that accountability, transparency, and structural reforms are necessary to ensure the incident does not become a standalone exception.
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