Published on: 15.01.2023 – 16:14
After returning from Saudi Arabia, where he was appointed a member of the Islamic World League, the highly influential and highly political Imam Dicko returned to Mali on Saturday January 14 where he was greeted by hundreds of his supporters. But on the way back from the airport, the police broke up the procession with tear gas.
In the images released by Imam Dicko’s supporters, we hear the tear gas and we see the plumes of smoke. It’s about 3 p.m. The procession has just left the airport and is moving towards the Imam’s house, monitored by the police.
“I was in my car right behind the Imam. There are gases that hit the Imam’s car, gases even entered the car. We’re sure it’s law enforcement. There were GMS vehicles [Groupement mobile de sécurité, unité de la police malienne, NDLR]. The National Guard was also there. There were quite a lot of them,” says Youssouf Diawara, general coordinator of CMAS (coordination of movements, associations and sympathizers of Imam Mahmoud Dicko).
No injuries are reported. However, contacts have been established between the police and Mahmoud Dicko’s team, according to Youssouf Diawara from the CMAS, who affirms that he does not understand: “It is really amazing on your part. There was no overflow, we only occupied one lane and the other lane was circulating very well. We had also taken our safety precautions. Our militants really behaved in such a way that we congratulate. Despite the tear gas, they didn’t react and scattered before going to the Imam. »
Deterioration in relations between Imam Mahmoud Dicko and the authorities
For two years, relations between Imam Mahmoud Dicko and the authorities have continued to deteriorate as a result of the August 2020 military coup. “Arrogant leaders” urged to “listen to the people” so as not to “commit the mistakes of the past”: the former head of the High Islamic Council of Mali, at the forefront of the demonstrations that preceded the fall of the former President IBK, has been very critical of the ruling regime in recent months.
► Also read: Mali: Imam Mahmoud Dicko denounces the “arrogance” of the ruling junta
Today Mahmoud Dicko vehemently rejects the draft of a new constitution presented by the transitional authorities. Youssouf Diawara, CMAS General Coordinator, believes that the origin of this incident should not be sought elsewhere. “The current interim authorities see the Imam as their opponent. So they refuse our supporters to come out to greet our godfather and show that the people are with Imam Mahmoud Dicko. For more than two years we have been condemning their actions that are not good for the Malian people. We can say that our relations are strained. »
The CMAS is asking the authorities for explanations and is questioning the Malian judicial system. The Jigiya Koura platform, which brings together parties opposed to the transitional authorities, condemned “a heinous act” “dressed with a strong political connotation” and called on the authorities to “show determination” by sanctioning those responsible for the shootings .
At the request of RFI, the Malian Ministry of Security did not want to communicate at this time.