Malian victims of violence seek closure at national reckoning

Victims of a litany of crimes committed since Mali’s independence up to the now-troubled years of jihadi insurgency, shared their testimony during the latest Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission hearing. The mechanism was set up in 2015.

In a Bamako hall, civilians, researchers, and army officials attend the fifth hearing of the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission.

Victims of a litany of crimes committed from Mali’s independence up to the now-troubled years of jihadi insurgency shared their testimony last week. An important step according to the commission's president.

" People were apprehensive, some thought that there was no point in revisiting these wounds, in stirring the pot , Ousmane Oumarou Sidibe said. But after the first hearings, I think that everyone understood that it was better to do this exercise of general catharsis in a way and simply make people aware of the suffering of a large part of the Malian population. "

28,877 victims testified

The commission was set up back in 2015, when Northern insurgents signed a peace deal with the government. The investigators collected testimony from over 28 000 victims.  In public hearings over the past two years, the commission has heard from victims of a litany of crimes committed since independence in 1960.  Mali's modern history has been marred by military dictatorships, Tuareg rebellions and since 2012 a spiral of violence in which jihadists affiliated to Al-Qaeda or the Islamic State group have created chaos.

" At each, before we started, we asked if they were ready for forgiveness and reconciliation ," said Ousmane Oumarou Sidibe, the commission's head.  " We were surprised, everyone said yes ". But how to express repentance and  forgiveness?  The commission will serve as a basis for further efforts.  It is one of a number of mechanisms meant to help reconcile Malians. 

 "... It is broadcast live on the national channel, on social networks, to ensure that Mali as a country knows what happened to the victims , commissioner Oumar Hasseye Toure explained. As the President said in his speech earlier, a victim who succeeding in speaking, and recounts the ordeal he or she experienced, that, in itself, is part of the healing process [...] Our goal is transitional justice. We are in a framework of transitional justice which rests on four pillars which are: the search for truth, reparation, the right to justice and the guarantee of non-repetition ."