Joint statement by Liberal International and the Africa Liberal Network
Liberal International (LI)and the Africa Liberal Network (ALN), as committed activists for the rule of law, are extremely concerned about the situation in Mali, which we are following very closely.
Mali is a key player in the fight against terrorism in the Sahel region. The latest developments linked to the military takeover must be provisional and mechanisms must be put in place to empower and install democratic institutions, respect the rule of law and organise free and fair elections.
We call for the release of all imprisoned political leaders.
We reiterate our call for the release of the Honourable Soumaila Cissé, the main leader of the political opposition, the Union for the Republic and Democracy (URD), LI & ALN member party.
Honourable Soumaila Cissé is also the former finance minister of Mali and has contested the presidency of Mali 3 times before. Since 25 March 2020, he is still being held hostage by an armed group, following a targeted kidnapping operation in which one person was killed and many injured among his campaigning delegation.
It is our duty to actively continue the work we have already started in Mali. Together with our partners, LI, ALN and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF), we have laid the foundations for civic education, human rights, the rule of law and crisis management in the wake of the crisis in Mali that began in 2012.
As a global liberal family, we call on international and regional organisations to remain vigilant in the West African region, monitoring developments and championing the construction of democracy and maintaining the rule of law.
