Ibrahim Nabi Togola, president of the opposition party Nouvelle Vision pour le Mali (NVPM), has been released after 45 days of incommunicado detention.
Togola was abducted in Bamako on December 28, 2024, by unidentified armed individuals while en route to a press conference where he was to deliver a critical statement on the ongoing political transition. His disappearance sparked widespread concern among his party, civil society organizations, and human rights defenders.
Despite numerous attempts to obtain information, no official communication regarding Togola’s whereabouts or condition was released by the Malian authorities.
His release, confirmed by his entourage, came without any official explanation for his detention. Sources close to Togola reported that he appeared weakened and emaciated.
The prolonged detention of Togola without due process drew strong condemnation from human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. The National Commission for Human Rights of Mali (CNDH) also expressed grave concern and called for an independent investigation into the matter.
The NVPM condemned Togola’s abduction as “political kidnapping” and demanded a full explanation from the Malian government.
The incident has raised serious concerns about the state of human rights and political freedoms in Mali.
MD/te/Sf/fss/abj/APA