Malian man dies after falling from Gendarmerie window in Malabo
Mamadu Maiga, held in a betting-company probe, died after jumping from a window where he was detained with a former minister.
Malian citizen Mamadu Maiga died after apparently jumping from a window at the National Gendarmerie in Malabo, where he was held in an investigation into sports betting companies. The incident happened on the night of Saturday, November 7, at about 21:30, according to witness accounts.
Maiga was summoned on Friday, November 6, to give a statement to investigators and was then kept in custody alongside former Minister of Culture, Tourism and Crafts Promotion Rufino Ndong Esono Nchama, who is also linked to the same case. Ndong Esono Nchama said he saw Maiga try to climb out of a window of the room they shared and shouted for security officers. Officers searched the area near the port, where Maiga's body was later found.
Ndong Esono Nchama described Maiga as very frightened and restless, but said he saw no physical attacks on him. Maiga's brother Colaba said he last saw him on Saturday, when he brought him food, and reported no visible signs of violence.
Why it mattersMaiga's death leaves his brother and family without the man they were waiting to see, and puts the Gendarmerie's custody conditions under question.