Mali has strongly condemned the mistreatment of its citizens deported from Mauritania, calling it a “flagrant violation of human rights” and demanding an immediate end to the abuses.
For weeks, Mauritania has been expelling migrants, primarily from neighboring West African nations such as Mali, Senegal, Ivory Coast, and Guinea.
The country, a key transit point for migrants attempting to reach Europe by sea, claims the deportations are part of routine efforts to remove undocumented individuals.
However, the crackdown has sparked regional outrage.
“The government of Mali expresses its indignation and condemns with the utmost rigor the treatment suffered by its nationals in Mauritania,” officials stated during a press conference in Bamako on Wednesday.
Authorities decried the conditions of arrest and deportation, insisting they violated fundamental human rights.
Malian officials have urged Mauritania to exercise restraint and halt the violence against deported migrants.
Rights organizations, including SOS Esclaves, have criticized the arrests, describing them as “inhumane.”
According to Malian Minister for Malians Living Abroad, Mossa Ag Attaher, more than 1,800 Malian migrants have been expelled in recent weeks.
The Malian government announced ongoing diplomatic talks to preserve historic ties between the two nations.
On Thursday, Mali’s Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop traveled to Mauritania to discuss the situation.
Mauritanian Foreign Minister Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug acknowledged the concerns but emphasized Mauritania’s right to enforce security measures and protect its citizens.
As tensions rise, both governments face mounting pressure to find a resolution that safeguards human rights while addressing security concerns in the region.
