The central figure of the protest movement, Imam Mahmoud Dicko called for calm after two days of hard protest.For many days, Malians have been on the streets asking for the departure of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, violent demonstrations that have killed at least 11 people. This weekend of insurrection ended in front of the mosque of Imam Dicko for the funeral prayer of the martyrs, who fell during the clashes during the gatherings.
Friday, July 11, 2020, was the third day of demonstration in Bamako, the capital, an appeal initiated by the Movement of June 5 – RPF. The unrest that resulted from these demonstrations resulted in eleven deaths and one hundred and twenty-four injuries according to the latest official record of hospital sources. The call for civil disobedience degenerated into a bloody confrontation with the security forces who wanted to disperse the crowd. The office of the Movement of June 5-RPF, gathered at the headquarters of the opposition leader, was forced by the police. Several leaders of the protest movement were arrested: Choguel .K. Maiga, Oumarou Diarra and Adama Ben Diarra, Clément Dembélé Isssa Kaou N’Djim and Moutaga Tall, the latter was released because of his status as a lawyer.
In the neighbourhood of Badalabougou, the epicentre of the violence on Saturday 12 July, hundreds of people attended the funeral of four of the victims of Friday day.Several leaders of the opposition but also of the M5 participated in the burial.Barricades were raised by the demonstrators, summons shots were heard. A court was ransacked. The local seat of the presidential party in the commune V of Bamako did not escape the same treatment. 300 homes were ransacked and a Total service station burned.
However, to contain the violence, the leading figure of the movement Imam Mahmoud Dicko called for calm after the death prayer. “I bow to the memory of the people who have fallen on the field of honour. I appeal to all the youth of Mali and to all the people of Mali. I ask the youth for more restraint. I have told them since June 19, and I still maintain that you can be strong without being violent. I ask them not to accept the trap. The fight we are fighting is to restore the Malian nation. It is to give this nation its dignity, its honour. It is to ensure that this catastrophic governance that has led us into a catastrophic situation where Mali is in the process of damaging itself before our eyes is not a reality, that it is a memory. This movement that we have initiated is the beginning of a hope that must remain, that must continue, but in dignity, in respect for others. I do not forget all the friendly countries that supported us, assisted us, those that sent the message of being measured. To law enforcement, I told them that shooting live bullets at innocent people doesn’t bring peace to the country. It doesn’t soothe hearts. They have to think about it.” he said.
