Geneva, 30 October 2026
Committee for Justice (CFJ) expresses its deep concern over the continued absence of reliable information regarding the fate and whereabouts of five Mauritanian nationals who were reportedly arrested on 27 April 2026 by members of the Malian Armed Forces at Dimara Market, before being transferred, according to statements by their families, to the Malian State Security services.
The five individuals concerned, whose names have been reported by the media and family representatives, are Cherif Ahmed Ould Eid, Cheikh Sid Ahmed Ould Jouid, Maloum Khatir, Cherif Ahmed Mbarek, and Cherif Ma Yasmaa.
According to reported information, their families began making public appeals in early May 2026 to obtain information about their fate. Relatives also reportedly organised gatherings outside the Mauritanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to call for the authorities’ intervention and clarification of the circumstances surrounding their alleged arrest.
On 4 August 2026, the Mauritanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it had initiated contacts with the Malian authorities concerning Mauritanian nationals detained in Mali, with the aim of clarifying the circumstances of their arrest and facilitating their release and safe return. However, this communication did not mention the names of the individuals concerned, and the available information does not establish with certainty that it specifically referred to the five nationals mentioned in this statement.
According to the latest media reports monitored by CFJ on 28 October 2026, the families continued to demand answers regarding the fate of their relatives, six months after their alleged arrest.
CFJ stresses that the deprivation of a person’s liberty by State agents, followed by the refusal to acknowledge that deprivation of liberty or the concealment of the person’s fate or whereabouts, may constitute an enforced disappearance when all the constituent elements of this violation are met. The prolonged absence of information concerning these five nationals therefore raises serious concerns about possible arbitrary detention or enforced disappearance, without it being possible, at this stage, to reach a definitive conclusion regarding such legal classification.
Committee for Justice recalls that the right to liberty and security of person, the prohibition of arbitrary arrest and detention, as well as safeguards relating to protection against enforced disappearances, are enshrined in international human rights law, particularly the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Committee for Justice calls on the Malian authorities to:
- Immediately establish and disclose the fate and whereabouts of the five Mauritanian nationals, as well as the circumstances of their alleged arrest and any possible detention.
- Officially confirm any deprivation of liberty and specify its legal basis, the authority responsible, and the place of detention.
- Guarantee their physical and psychological integrity, as well as their effective access to their families, lawyers and, where applicable, Mauritanian consular services.
- Immediately release them if their detention has no legal basis. Otherwise, ensure without delay that the lawfulness of their detention is reviewed by a competent judicial authority, in accordance with applicable procedural safeguards.
- Conduct an independent, impartial and effective investigation into the circumstances of their alleged disappearance and any human rights violations that may be established.
CFJ also calls on the Mauritanian authorities to intensify their diplomatic and consular efforts with the Malian authorities, report on the outcomes of the contacts announced in August 2026, and ensure regular and transparent follow-up with the families concerned.
Committee for Justice recalls that families have the right to know the fate of their relatives and that the competent authorities must take all necessary measures to establish the facts, prevent any further violations, and guarantee access to justice.
Six months after the reported events, persistent uncertainty cannot serve as a substitute for an official response. CFJ reiterates the need for urgent, comprehensive and verifiable clarification regarding the fate of these five Mauritanian nationals, in accordance with international and regional human rights protection obligations.
Committee for Justice (CFJ)
