Latest news with #MarceauSivieude
Arab News
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Violent Togo protest crackdown must be investigated: Amnesty
ABIDJAN: Amnesty International called Thursday for an independent investigation into allegations that Togo's security forces killed, tortured and kidnapped people in a violent crackdown on anti-government protests last month. Ruled for 58 years by leader Faure Gnassingbe and his late father, Togo has been rocked in recent weeks by rare protests in the capital, Lome, against electricity price hikes, arrests of government critics and a constitutional reform consolidating Gnassingbe's grip on power. At least seven people have been killed, dozens wounded and more than 60 arrested, according to civil society groups. Amnesty International said it had interviewed victims and witnesses who described a series of abuses by security forces at banned protests in late June. According to witnesses, 'men identified as security forces carried out unlawful killings, arbitrary arrests and detentions, acts of torture and other ill-treatment, and several cases of abduction,' said Marceau Sivieude, the rights group's interim director for west and central Africa. 'These cases must be independently and transparently investigated as a matter of urgency,' he said in a statement. At least six people are still reported missing after the protests, said Amnesty, which also condemned the alleged torture of protesters at another series of demonstrations in early June against Gnassingbe, 59, who took power in 2005 after the death of his father. Authorities said Sunday that two bodies found in a lagoon after the protests were victims of drownings. A lawyer for victims, Darius Atsoo, told the rights group the number of people detained in connection with the protests was unknown. As of Monday, at least 31 were still in custody, he said.
Zawya
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Togo: Testimonies provide glimpse into violent repression of protests
The Togolese authorities must put an end to unnecessary and excessive use of force against protesters, said Amnesty International, amid the latest violent crackdown on protests in the capital, Lomé, since 26 June. The organization spoke with 18 victims and witnesses. Thirteen described a pattern of unlawful use of force and mistreatment by police and security forces against protesters and passers-by. "These cases must be independently and transparently investigated as a matter of urgency." Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International's interim Regional Director for West and Central Africa These protests, considered illegal by the authorities, are the latest in a series of demonstrations since the beginning of June against the repression of dissent, the high cost of living and changes to the constitution. Last month, Amnesty International documented allegations that protesters had been tortured or subjected to ill-treatment. 'In recent days, we have interviewed people who have alleged that men identified as security forces carried out unlawful killings, arbitrary arrests and detentions, acts of torture and other ill-treatment, and several cases of abduction. These cases must be independently and transparently investigated as a matter of urgency,' said Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International's interim Regional Director for West and Central Africa. Reports of unlawful use of force by security forces Thirteen people interviewed by Amnesty International said that men in uniform, suspected to be members of security forces and people described as 'militiamen' used unnecessary and excessive force and violence. A man living in Avénou said: 'On 30 June, everything was quiet in our neighbourhood. Suddenly three pick-ups and a car came speeding down our street. Everyone started running away. Men forced their way into our house. They made us get out and told us to kneel down. They were all in civilian clothes. They pointed their guns at us and then they beat us. They left, saying they were going to come back.' A 38-year-old man said: 'On 26 June at around 3pm, I was taking part in a protest in Attiégou, when a group of soldiers attacked me. They hit me hard. I ended up losing consciousness and some young people took me for treatment.' A 17-year-old teenager said he was arrested on 26 June by gendarmes and held for five days, first at the Zorobar gendarmerie station, then at the former national gendarmerie headquarters and the Avepozo gendarmerie camp. 'They put us on our knees with our arms raised. If we lowered our arms, they hit us with cords […]. All day long, we only drank one sachet of water'. The teenager says he is still suffering from back pain. According to him, more than 40 people were detained with him at the gendarmerie on 30 June, including other children. Two men and a woman have been missing since 27 June. They were allegedly abducted by unidentified men from a house in the Adidogomé neighbourhood. In a video broadcast live on Tik Tok on 27 June by one of the victims, people were seen bursting into the room, and then the video cut. In the preceding days, he had published several videos in support of the protests and denouncing arbitrary arrests. "All light must be shed on these deaths and the whereabouts of those who have disappeared." Fabien Offner, researcher at Amnesty International's regional office for West and Central Africa At least seven people found dead, including children The parents of a 16-year-old boy found dead in the Bè lagoon on 27 June told Amnesty International that members of the security forces in black uniforms had entered the neighbourhood the previous day and that tear gas shots had been heard. The boy's body was found along with that of another child. In a statement shared on 29 June, Togolese civil society organizations reported the deaths of seven people, whose bodies were found in rivers in Lomé, and mentioned 'beatings' and 'arbitrary arrests of passers-by, youth, and older people', and 'chases […] of young people, sometimes children, forced to take refuge in the lagoon'. The statement also mentioned 'bullet holes in three bodies found in the Bè lagoon on 27 June […] and testimonies of local residents who reported gunshots'. 'All light must be shed on these deaths and the whereabouts of those who have disappeared. Those detained for exercising their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly must be released,' said Fabien Offner, researcher at Amnesty International's regional office for West and Central Africa. The government announced on 29 June that the bodies found were those of people who had 'drowned', citing 'the results of forensic analyses'. 'We don't know the exact number of people brought before the court and those still in custody', lawyer Darius K. Atsoo said to Amnesty International. According to him, as of 30 June, 18 people arrested on 26, 27 and 28 June had been released and 31 were still being held in custody following hearings before the public prosecutor. On 2 July, at least six people had not been found by their families, according to testimonies. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Amnesty International.
Zawya
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Niger: Authorities failing to uphold their commitment to respect human rights since military coup
The report, 'Niger: Threatened and Brought to Heel: Human Rights and Civic Space under pressure since the 26 July Coup', sheds light on the deterioration of civic space and violations of civil and political rights since the overthrow of President Mohamed Bazoum. Amnesty International documented human rights violations including arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, abuses of detainees' rights and violations of the right to a fair trial and of press freedom. The victims of arbitrary detention include former President Mohamed Bazoum, his wife, seven cabinet members of the fallen regime, journalists and human rights defenders. "The Nigerien authorities made a commitment to respect the rule of law and human rights. Our report shows that they have clearly failed." Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International's Interim Regional Director for West and Central Africa 'Upon taking power, the new authorities justified their coup on a continued worsening of the security situation and poor economic and social governance. They made a commitment to respect the rule of law and human rights. Our report shows that they have clearly failed, with a sharp escalation of human rights violations since the coup. They must now keep their commitment', said Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International's Interim Regional Director for West and Central Africa. Human rights trampled in law and practice On 28 July 2023, the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (Conseil national pour la sauvegarde de la patrie – CNSP), formed by the military who perpetrated the coup, suspended the 2010 Constitution. The CNSP made an ordinance stressing Niger's commitment to the rule of law and pluralist democracy and to the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights. 'Despite the guarantees given by the new Nigerien authorities, human rights have been trampled in law and practice. Arbitrary detentions have become common and court rulings are not respected,' said Marceau Sivieude. Since the coup, former President Mohamed Bazoum and his spouse, Hadiza Mabrouk, have been detained despite a December 2023 ECOWAS Court of Justice ruling that declared their detention arbitrary and called for their release. In June 2024, the former president's immunity was lifted by the State Court, in a process in which he was denied access to his lawyers. Mohamed Bazoum has been charged with 'high treason' and 'plotting with the purpose of threatening state security or the authority of the state', while no charges have been brought against Hadiza Mabrouk. Seven former cabinet ministers, charged with 'infringing on national defence' before military courts, remain arbitrarily detained, despite judicial orders calling for the release of some of them. "Amnesty International calls on the Nigerien authorities to respect international and regional treaties they are still bound to." Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International's Interim Regional Director for West and Central Africa The CNSP has also suspended the activities of political parties since July 2023 and rolled back some human rights progress by reinstating prison sentences for offences of defamation. A national registry of persons allegedly involved in terrorism-related activities and other offences was established, which has already been misused to include critics and temporarily deprive them of their citizenship. 'If you criticize the government, be sure that you risk being arrested' Violations of the right to freedom of expression affecting citizens, civil society members and journalists have been relentless since the coup. In January 2024, the Press House (Maison de la presse), an umbrella group of 32 media organizations, was suspended and replaced by an ad hoc committee headed by the Secretary General of the Ministry of the Interior. Several journalists have been arbitrarily detained, and several international media outlets have been suspended. The journalist Ousmane Toudou, Mohamed Bazoum's former communications adviser and critic of the current regime, was arrested on 13 April 2024 and accused of 'treason and plotting against the state security'. He remains in detention but has no trial date set. On 24 April 2024, the editor of the newspaper L'Enquêteur, Soumana Maiga, was arrested after his newspaper published a story about the alleged installation of listening equipment by Russian agents in official state buildings. He is charged with 'infringement of national defence.' On 9 July 2024, he was freed pending trial. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison. Moussa Tchangari, secretary general of the organization Citizens' Alternative Spaces (Alternatives Espaces Citoyens – AEC), known for his criticism of the authorities, was arrested in December 2024. He was charged with 'infringing on national defence' and 'intelligence with enemy countries' among other charges and remains arbitrarily detained. If convicted, he could face 10 years of imprisonment. In this repressive climate, self-censorship has become the norm among journalists and human rights defenders, for fear of reprisals. 'If you criticize the government, be sure that you risk being arrested', a civil society member told Amnesty International. 'With the transition period potentially extending to five renewable years following the recommendations of a national consultation held last February, Amnesty International calls on the Nigerien authorities to respect international and regional treaties they are still bound to, which protect the rights to freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly, guarantee the right to a fair trial and the rights of those in detention, and prohibit torture and other ill-treatment. They must release all arbitrarily detained persons immediately,' said Marceau Sivieude. Amnesty International shared the preliminary findings of this report on 13 February 2025 with the Nigerien authorities. At the time of finalizing the report, no responses had been received. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Amnesty International.
Zawya
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Senegal: Authorities must deliver justice to victims of violent repression of protests since 2021
The Senegalese authorities must deliver justice, truth and reparation to the thousands of victims of the violent crackdown on protests between 2021 and 2024, said Amnesty International on the first anniversary of a law granting an amnesty to security forces. The amnesty law, passed on 6 March 2024, covers all acts likely to be classified as crimes or offences relating to 'demonstrations or politically motivated events', which took place between 1 February 2021 and 25 February 2024. During this period, during protests triggered by the arrest of then opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, security forces routinely deployed excessive and lethal use of force against protesters. According to figures gathered by Amnesty International and other civil society organizations, at least 65 people were killed, the majority by firearms, with at least 1,000 wounded. A further 2,000 people were arrested. 'Justice, truth and reparation require that security forces allegedly responsible for excessive and illegal use of force during protests be prosecuted. The amnesty law constitutes an obstacle that must be removed by the current Senegalese authorities, as they pledged to do,' said Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International's interim regional director for West and Central Africa. "Justice, truth and reparation require that security forces allegedly responsible for excessive and illegal use of force during protests be prosecuted." Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International Interim Regional Director for West and Central Africa 'The financial assistance paid in 2024 to some of the victims of detentions and announced in 2025 to families of people killed during protests is a first step. However, it does not meet their need for justice, nor does it constitute a guarantee that such events will not be repeated. Senegalese authorities must repeal the amnesty law and provide justice to all victims of human rights violations during protests,' said Seydi Gassama, executive director of Amnesty International Senegal. Background In March 2021, the arrest of then opposition leader Ousmane Sonko as part of a judicial investigation triggered protests in Senegal. These protests continued over the next three years as the investigation remained ongoing. Protests also took place against alleged attempts by then president Macky Sall to challenge for a third term and against the delaying of the February 2024 presidential elections. "Senegalese authorities must repeal the amnesty law and provide justice to all victims of human rights violations during protests" Seydi Gassama, Executive Director of Amnesty International Senegal During the election campaign for the early legislative elections in November 2024, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko promised to repeal the amnesty law to bring justice to the victims of the 2021-2024 demonstrations. On 17 November 2024, the parliamentary list led by Sonko won the legislative elections by a large margin. In 2024 the authorities provided financial assistance to some of victims of arbitrary detentions through the Ministry of the Family and Solidarities. In January 2025, the assistance was extended to the families of people killed during demonstrations and to more victims of arbitrary detentions. In its communiqué, the Ministry of Family and Solidarities identified the number of deaths during the protests at 79and the number of former detainees to be assisted at 2172. The assistance took place outside a judicial framework, but partially in consultation with the committees of political prisoners and civil society organizations, including Amnesty International. Amnesty International has denounced the amnesty law and has been calling for the Senegalese government to uphold the right to freedom of peaceful expression and assembly as part of its 'Protect the protest' campaign. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Amnesty International.
Zawya
21-02-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Côte d'Ivoire - One year on: Evicted Gesco Rivière farmers must be compensated for devastating loss of livelihoods
The Ivorian authorities must urgently compensate the 133 farmers, their employees and families whose livelihoods were destroyed following the forced evictions on the Gesco Rivière site in Abidjan, Amnesty International said on the first anniversary of the demolitions. On 21 February 2024, as part of a series of forced evictions in Abidjan neighbourhoods, farms and fishponds belonging to members of the Agro-Past Eburny association were demolished without prior consultation or notice. The farmers had settled on the Gesco Rivière site, a 4.6 hectares area which had been granted to them in 2011 by a state-owned company for the creation of an agro-pastoral zone, according to Guillaume Ballé Zilé, the association's president. One year after the demolitions, despite the suspension of forced evictions in November 2024 and the authorities' repeated commitments to compensate and rehouse those affected, none of the farmers has received compensation for their losses, estimated to be at around 650 million FCFA, or 1 million euros, according to president of the Agro-Past Eburny association. 'While we have welcomed the authorities' commitment to suspend evictions and demolitions in Abidjan and to implement compensation measures, the Gesco Rivière farmers have so far not benefited from any of these plans. It is essential that all those affected by forced evictions who have not received compensation are able to benefit from it without delay,' said Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International's interim regional director for West and Central Africa. Guillaume Ballé Zilé said: 'Since February 2024, no government body, in particular the Ministry of Animal Production and Fisheries Resources, to which we were reporting, has reacted, nor has the Yopougon town hall or the Autonomous District of Abidjan.' More than 300 families plunged into poverty In addition to the 133 farmers and their families affected by the demolitions, three of whom have since died, 171 people were employed on the site, where many also slept in makeshift huts. 'Before the demolitions, these farmers and their employees supported their families and paid for their children's schooling. Since the demolitions, they have lost their sources of income and suffered other violations of their rights, including access to health and education. Many of their children no longer go to school because of lack of money, and some have to work to contribute to their families' income,' said Hervey Delmas Kokou, Executive Director of Amnesty International Côte d'Ivoire. One of the farmers, whose foot was amputated after an accident occurred several years ago, had invested all his insurance money in rabbit and fish farming in Gesco Rivière. Following the demolitions, he had to move to his mother's house with his wife and child because he could no longer pay his rent. Another retired farmer had to leave his home and set up in a makeshift hut in the Banco forest, near his demolished farm. The demolitions and the consequent loss of livelihood also forced several farmers to halt their medical treatment. 'I have diabetes and a sore that must be treated. I no longer go to the hospital since 21 February 2024 because I have no money,' a 65-year-old widow told Amnesty International. Compensation measures must be urgently implemented for all affected people In August 2024, Amnesty International documented human rights violations affecting tens of thousands of families evicted without due prior notice and/or compensation from four Abidjan neighbourhoods between January and June 2024, including the Agro-Past Eburny association farmers. In March 2024, the Ivorian authorities announced the payment of 250,000 FCFA (around 372 euros) per household already affected in two neighbourhoods, Boribana and Gesco, as forced evictions were continuing. On 21 November 2024, they announced the suspension of evictions in Abidjan, rehousing solutions and support for income-generating activities, as well as the implementation of the support measures announced in March 2024 for all affected people. Amnesty International called for the urgent implementation of these measures, including for people who were neither tenants nor homeowners but who lost property during the demolitions. People affected by forced evictions since January 2024 are still being counted by a development unit for precarious neighbourhoods conducting a census, according to information gathered by Amnesty International. 'Where evictions are unavoidable, the authorities must fully adhere to national and international human rights standards and uphold the rights enshrined in the African Charter on Human and People's Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, both of which Côte d'Ivoire ratified in 1992,' said Marceau Sivieude. Background Between January and June 2024, extensive demolition operations were carried out in four neighbourhoods in Abidjan, which led to tens of thousands of residents being forcibly evicted. The demolitions formed part of a plan announced on 26 February 2024 by the Autonomous District of Abidjan, targeting the destruction of 176 sites deemed vulnerable to flooding. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Amnesty International.
