News in Mali: Appointment of the Steering Committee of the Authority for the Management of Reparations for Crisis Victims
In Mali, new advances have been made in the process of national reconciliation and justice for the victims of the crises that have rocked the country. The Minister of National Reconciliation recently announced the appointment of the president and members of the Orientation Committee of the Authority for the management of reparations for victims. This authority was created following the recommendations of the report of the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (CVJR), which was responsible for investigating human rights violations in Mali.
Colonel Abdoulaye Macalou, former secretary general of the CVJR, was chosen to lead this authority. This appointment is perceived as logical, because the creation of this repair agency was a proposal of the CVJR. However, some personalities involved in the work of the Commission express concerns about the publication of the final report of the CVJR. Although the Commission’s mandate ended in December 2021, the report has yet to be made public, raising fears of possible concealment of information or recommendations by current authorities.
The CVJR was created in 2014 and its work spanned seven years, during which more than 23,000 victim statements were recorded. These testimonies have highlighted the violence committed since the 1960s by armed rebel groups, community self-defense militias, jihadist groups and the Malian army. Victims had the opportunity to share their experience in public sessions broadcast on state television.
The objective of the Authority for the Management of Reparations for Victims is to compensate and support all Malians who have suffered human rights violations, as well as their relatives. The creation of this authority is an important step in the transitional justice process in Mali, aimed at recognizing the suffering of victims, promoting national reconciliation and guaranteeing the non-recurrence of human rights violations.
The appointment of Colonel Abdoulaye Macalou as President of the Reparations Management Authority marks a significant step forward in the care of victims in Mali. However, it is crucial that the CVJR’s final report be published in order to guarantee transparency and truth about human rights violations in Mali. Expectations are high for the publication of this report, which will provide valuable information for the implementation of reparations and justice measures for victims