Mali ex-detainee recounts torture and deaths
El Bachir Thiam, a former member of the now-dissolved Yelema party, describes five months of illegal detention and the deaths of dozens of fellow prisoners.
El Bachir Thiam, a former member of Mali's now-dissolved Yelema party, has spoken out about his detention by state security agents. Thiam was abducted on May 8, 2025, in Kati by masked intelligence service officers and held for nearly five months without legal process. He described atrocious detention conditions and the deaths of several dozen co-detainees during his imprisonment.
Thiam, who is now in exile outside Mali, stated he stopped counting the deaths of fellow prisoners. He was released after a period of detention that coincided with the swift suppression of a brief pro-democracy protest movement. Agents threatened him with death to ensure his silence about the events.
Thiam's testimony details the abduction of several pro-democracy activists under similar circumstances. The Yelema party, like all political organizations in Mali, has been dissolved. Thiam was held in state security custody for approximately five months before his release.
Why it mattersEl Bachir Thiam and other pro-democracy activists were illegally detained and subjected to harsh conditions, with many dying in custody.