In Mali, police release special forces commander detained for brutal suppression of protests from prison

The Mali authorities issued a statement on Saturday condemning the protest with the participation of armed police officers. Security forces marched to a prison in the capital Bamako and freed the commander of a special forces unit, Umar Samake, who is accused of violence in suppressing protests last year. Then dozens of people died.

The authorities said in a statement that police officers “in uniform and with weapons” took to the streets and took part in a demonstration, thus committing a “condemnable act” transfers France 24. The appeal, which was shown on TV, also states that the authorities will continue to prosecute those responsible for crimes.

The Mali authorities stressed that the investigation into the killing of protesters in 2020 continues, and the security forces must “respect the authority of the state.”

On Friday, Mali law enforcement officers detained special forces commander Umar Samake. After that, the outraged police marched to the prison and secured the release of Samake. The suspect spent only a few hours in the isolation ward.

One of the jailers said that the police broke into the penitentiary, and the guards did not offer them resistance. However, a source in the Ministry of Justice claims that Samake was released by order of the authorities in order to “keep the peace” and not aggravate the conflict with the security forces.

The release of Samake caused a political scandal. Human rights activists called the incident “an attack on democracy and the rule of law,” and former Prime Minister Moussa Mara said he was “shocked.”

Last year, protests were held in Mali, in which opponents of then-President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who was suspected of corruption, participated. According to the opposition, during the clashes between the demonstrators and the security forces, which lasted for several days, 23 people were killed. The UN reported that 14 people were killed, including two children.

In August 2020, Ibrahim Keita was removed from power by the military. They announced the creation of the National Committee for the Rescue of the People to get out of the political crisis.

In May 2021, a new military coup took place in Mali. Colonel Assimi Goita became the interim president of the country. He pledged to restore democratic power transfer procedures and hold parliamentary and presidential elections in Mali in February 2022.

Since 2012, the Mali authorities have been fighting against Islamists operating in the north of the country. However, in recent years, rebels have begun to control large areas, including in the neighboring states of Burkina Faso and Niger. Thousands of military and civilians became victims of the armed conflict, hundreds of thousands of people were forced to leave their homes.