4 DECEMBER 2013, Press Release

Authorities in Mali must urgently identify the 21 bodies found in a mass grave last night, believed to belong to soldiers abducted in May 2012, Amnesty International said.

„Ever since the soldiers were abducted from the Kati Military Camp, their loved ones have been desperate to know what has happened to them. Authorities in Mali must now do everything in their power to give the families the full truth,“ said Gaëtan Mootoo, Mali researcher at Amnesty International, who met with some of the relatives of the soldiers last week.

„Unfortunately, the initial reports seem to confirm our fears that the 21 soldiers could have been executed,“ added Gaëtan Mootoo. „Amnesty International extends its deepest sympathies to all the families concerned.“

They were charged with kidnapping, murder and assassination in connection with the disappearance of 21 ‚red beret‘ soldiers suspected of supporting a counter-coup against General Sanogo.

The mass grave was discovered following the arrest of General Amadou Haya Sanogo who led a military coup in Mali in March 2012. Several of his soldiers were also detained.

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