Mamoutou Toure, the current president of the Malian Football Federation (FEMAFOOT), and Issaka Sidibe, the former president of the National Assembly, were granted provisional release on Tuesday in Bamako following over eight months of detention.
The decision was made by the investigating judge of the Bamako Economic and Financial Center. However, both men remain formally charged and will face serious accusations in a highly anticipated upcoming trial related to the alleged embezzlement of a substantial sum of public funds.
Mamoutou Toure and Issaka Sidibe had been incarcerated since August 9, 2023. The charges against them include alleged embezzlement of public funds, forgery and the use of forged documents, as well as complicity in these acts. The accusations stem from their respective roles and management during the period when Sidibe served as the President of the National Assembly and Toure held the position of its Administrative and Financial Director.
The case revolves around an estimated 17 billion CFA francs, equivalent to nearly €26 million, which was allegedly misappropriated through practices deemed irregular that occurred between 2013 and 2019. Several other former officials of the Malian legislative body are also implicated and targeted by the ongoing legal proceedings.
According to available information, the provisional release of both Toure and Sidibe is subject to strict conditions, the specifics of which have not been fully disclosed. Crucially, they remain formally indicted on the charges and will be required to appear in court for a trial at a later date. No acquittals have been announced in the case thus far, indicating that the legal process is still actively underway.
A notable aspect of this case is that despite his detention on these serious charges, Mamoutou Toure was re-elected as the president of FEMAFOOT in August 2023. This re-election sparked considerable debate and scrutiny regarding football governance in Mali, particularly within a context where the transitional authorities have publicly stated their commitment to strengthening the fight against corruption at all levels of society.
The impending trial is therefore expected to be significant for the image of the Malian justice system and the overall credibility of state institutions in ensuring the proper management and accountability of public funds. The proceedings will be closely watched by the public and international observers alike, as they unfold and potentially shed light on the alleged financial irregularities within a key Malian institution.
MD/ac/Sf/fss/abj/APA