A prominent Malian lawyer and politician known for criticising the country’s ruling military junta was abducted overnight by masked men in the capital, Bamako, according to family members.
Relatives told AFP on Sunday that the lawyer, identified as Tall, was taken from his home by unidentified men wearing balaclavas.
His disappearance comes at a tense moment for Mali’s military government, which is facing mounting pressure after coordinated attacks on key military positions last weekend and the killing of former defence minister General Sadio Camara.
The recent attacks were reportedly carried out by Tuareg separatists and jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda.
According to a family member who witnessed the abduction, two masked men arrived and forcibly took Tall away.
“Two men in balaclavas came to take him away, they left with him,” the relative said.
The family has since filed an official complaint for abduction.
Another family member said Tall’s wife was allegedly manhandled during the incident after attempting to photograph the men.
Her phone was reportedly confiscated by the abductors.
Tall is a known political figure in Mali and was previously associated with the M5-RFP movement, a coalition that played a major role in mass protests that led to the overthrow of former president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in 2020.
At the time, the movement was instrumental in supporting calls for political change and initially aligned with military officers who later seized power.
However, Tall later distanced himself from the junta and became one of its outspoken critics.
In recent years, he has publicly challenged several decisions made by Mali’s military authorities.
Tall is currently serving as defence lawyer for a number of military officers arrested in recent months.
The officers are accused by the junta of attempting to destabilise state institutions.
He has also filed legal cases in various courts challenging the military government’s decision to dissolve political parties, a move widely criticised by opposition figures and civil society groups.
His abduction has raised concerns among political observers and human rights advocates over the safety of opposition voices and legal professionals in Mali.
The disappearance comes amid heightened instability following large-scale attacks across the country.
Last weekend, coordinated assaults targeted strategic military positions controlled by the junta and army forces, including sites in Bamako and the nearby military town of Kati.
At least 23 people were killed in the attacks, according to available reports.
Among the victims were civilians and children, according to UNICEF, which also reported multiple injuries.
On Friday, Mali’s prosecutor’s office announced it had uncovered what it described as “solid evidence” suggesting the involvement of certain military personnel in the attacks.
Authorities accused some officers of helping with the planning, coordination, and execution of the assaults.
The prosecution also alleged that exiled opposition politician Oumar Mariko, a former lawmaker and presidential candidate, had links to the events.
The allegations have added to an already volatile political climate in Mali, where tensions between the military government, opposition groups, and armed factions continue to escalate.
Tall’s whereabouts remain unknown, and no official statement has yet been issued by Malian authorities regarding the abduction.
The incident is likely to deepen concerns about political repression and security conditions in the country.
