The trial against Amadou Sanogo is therefore declared “off” in Mali. The Bamako Assize Court announced it on Monday morning, March 15th. The coup captain in 2012, who became general, is therefore completely free.
as reported from Bamako, Serge Daniel
Amadou Sanogo no longer prosecuted for the murder of the 21 Red Berets soldiers found in a mass grave near Bamako. The same goes for his co-defendant. This does not mean that they are declared innocent or acquitted, but that there is no more trial.
Shortly after nine in the morning on Monday, when the defendants entered the Bamako Court of Appeal, General Amadou Sanogo was easily recognizable: suits and dark glasses, he smiled as if expecting the good news. After the usual formalities, therefore, the President spoke in court and announced the end of the case.
Its decision is motivated by the law of national agreement. This law, passed in 2019 by the National Assembly and rolled out under the previous regime, allows in connection with national reconciliation in certain cases to stop prosecution of persons accused of crimes against in particular compensation to victims or by their parents.
Unanswered questions
As part of the trial mod general Amadou Sanogo and his co-defendant, several relatives of victims have already been compensated. Their lawyer was not even present in court Monday.
The action against the accused is therefore off, they are free. The fact is that we did not get to the bottom of the matter and that Malian justice at the moment did not allow to know exactly how the 21 soldiers red berets were murdered in 2012 before being found in a mass grave.
The prosecution has three days to lodge an appeal in cassation if he is against the court’s decision.
■ The anger of the families of the victims
I’m really shocked this morning. I would have preferred there to be judgments. How do barbaric, heinous crimes go unpunished?
Ismaila Fané is a spokeswoman for Apembra, the Association of Parents and Wives of Murdered Red Berets
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