Mali: Information on the trial of the former president of Mali, Moussa Traoré, and a list of his accomplices
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 February 1993 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | MLI13067 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Mali: Information on the trial of the former president of Mali, Moussa Traoré, and a list of his accomplices, 1 February 1993, MLI13067, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6abfd74.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The trial of the former president of Mali, Moussa Traoré opened in Bamako on 4 June 1992 (AFP 5 June 1992). According to this news release, General Moussa Traoré, and three of his senior army officers are accused of killing more than 300 people and injuring 1, 200 others during a demonstration (Ibid.). Among those accused with Moussa Traoré are Ex-defence minister General Mamadou Coulibaly, ex-interior and security minister General Sekou Ly and former Army chief of staff Colonel Ousmane Couliby (Ibid., 24).
This article further states that twenty-seven other people including two women, whose names have not been published, are also accused of complicity with Moussa Traoré. After the opening of the trial, Malian youths reportedly hurled stones at the police causing violence and the trial had to be postponed (Reuters 5 June 1992). Another Reuters article of 2 December 1992, states that Traoré accused Lieutenant-Colonel Bakary Coulibali of ordering troops to open fire on protesters (Ibid., 3). It is worthy to note that Bakary Coulibali himself is not on trial but he presented evidence. He [Bakary Coulibali] said the ex-president ordered the use of force and the then armed forces chief of staff, Colonel Ousmane Coulibali, took the decision to issue ammunition to the soldiers to the soldiers (Ibid., 3).
According to a report by the BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, the trial continues (6 Feb. 1993, 1). For further information on this topic, please refer to the attached documents.
References
Agence France Presse (AFP). 5 June 1992. "Mali: Moussa Traoré's Trial Opens, Adjourned Unitl 6 June." (FBIS-AFR-92-109 4 June 1992)
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 6 February 1993. "Ex-President's Defence Lawyer Says Traoré Not Guilty of 1991 Killings." (NEXIS)
Reuters. 2 December 1992. "Traoré Rejects 'Criminal' Blame for Mali Deaths." (NEXIS)
. 5 June 1992. "Trial of Mali's Ex-Leader Delayed After Violence." (NEXIS)
Attachments
Agence France Presse (AFP). 5 June 1992. "Mali: Moussa Traoré's Trial Opens, Adjourned Unitl 6 June." (FBIS-AFR-92-109 4 June 1992)
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 6 February 1993. "Ex-President's Defence Lawyer Says Traoré Not Guilty of 1991 Killings." (NEXIS)
Reuters. 2 December 1992. "Traoré Rejects 'Criminal' Blame for Mali Deaths." (NEXIS)
. 5 June 1992. "Trial of Mali's Ex-Leader Delayed After Violence."