The lynching of alleged thieves and other criminals, also called “Article 320”, is a practice that dates back several years in Mali. “320”, it was the price of a liter of gasoline and a box of matches. This phenomenon has resurfaced for some time in the Malian capital. We met with the regional director of the Bamako District Police who spoke on the issue.
Sahelien.com: For some time, we noticed that popular justice is gaining momentum in the Malian capital. What is the opinion of the police in relation to this?
Siaka Sidibé: The subject of lynching of alleged perpetrators across the district in recent times, has actually grown. This is very worrying because no one is unaware that the law gives no authorization to someone to take the life of his neighbor, whatever the fault is.
Sahelien.com: When did this practice begin and how did we get here?
Siaka Sidibé: It is a phenomenon that began in the year 1991 (year of the revolution, Ed.). There were a lot of problems with the events at the time. The security forces in general, and the police in particular, no longer had a good relationship with the population because of what we experienced. The prisons were so crowded that there was a time when protesters attacked some of them to free people who were guarded. So we found ourselves face to face with several perpetrators. People who were often convicted of serious offenses or crimes found themselves in the streets and were keen to infringe the freedoms of the people. Since the prisons were no longer functioning, police stations and gendarmerie burned and sacked, the only thing left to the population was to search for these bandits. At each fault or offense, they are killed, lynched or burned alive. It took some time for the security forces to recover the ground and gain the confidence of the people. Some police stations were re-established and people gradually began to hand over the perpetrators to the police. We noticed that it was a phenomenon called article 320, because the liter of gasoline cost 300 francs CFA and the box of matches 20 francs to burn people.
Sahelien.com: How is this practice perceived by the police?
Siaka Sidibé: So, it shocked not only the police and the authorities, but also a very good part of the population. You have to know that we are a country where even when we get up in the morning and see a lifeless body in the street, there is always someone who will cover it with a mat. But killing a person because they are suspected of committing a motorcycle theft or any offense was very problematic, because often there were clues that disappeared. You will agree with me that when you kill a person suspected of stealing a motorcycle or a large amount of money for example, it is clear that the investigation can no longer continue, the alleged perpetrator is no longer there. As a result, the police have no clue as to what actually happened and with whom he committed these offenses, and also how he disposed of the stolen product, and so on. We also noticed that small things, often settlements, were enough to bring about the lynching. We saw some people screaming about a thief and the first person who is there is being targeted. There are some who come without trying to understand and throw themselves into the dance.
Sahelien.com: What is the police doing to eradicate this phenomenon?
Siaka Sidibé: We had tried to manage this situation, it had disappeared, confidence had returned and the populations gave indications on cases, or led the suspects to the police station. But lately, it has resurfaced. We have identified several cases, people who are burned during the night. It is not in accordance with the law. So our role is to educate the public, to show them that these practices are contrary to the law. In spite of all this, if there are lynching cases, it is up to us to open an investigation and to bring the perpetrators to justice and the law will be applied.
Sahelien.com: What do you have to say to this section of the population that no longer trust the police?
Siaka Sidibé: It is a serious mistake not to trust the police. The police are created because there is the population. The police are created for the sole purpose of protecting persons and their property, to allow the population to go around normally without worry. It is also so that people can go to work, go to the farm, accompany the children to school or go to a concert. So the police are there to ensure security. But we do not resent people too much because we have to recognize that often we have behaviors that do not really facilitate the understanding of a certain fringe of the population. We have a lot of effort to do at this level. Already, we have taken action and initiated sensitization, strengthened discipline and made the profession known. A good policeman who knows the job, who knows his job does not need to be seen or do exactions on populations. The application of the law is not as complicated, knowing is enough, knowing how to exercise it. For the time being, we are at a stage where people are regaining confidence in their police, thanks in particular to our internal actions in our police stations, in our neighborhoods. We have also done a lot of things to enable people to understand our role first and understand that we are there for them. We are at their disposal for law enforcement and ensure that they can go around freely.
Sahelien.com: The population needs the police and vice versa. What is your message to the people for a more frank collaboration?
Siaka Sidibé: We cannot work without our people. As long as we have no information, as long as we have no intelligence, and as long as we do not have the frank cooperation of the population. There are many things that can happen and we will not know. So we really need the population, it also needs us. But our need is greater.
Sory KondoTranslated by Mahaitou Ibrahim Maiga