A colonel in the Malian army has been arrested over a recently published book containing allegations that the military committed human rights abuses against civilians.
In a 400-page book entitled Mali: The Challenge of Terrorism in Africa, Colonel Alpha Yahya Sangare quotes human rights organizations and writes about human rights violations, “being a member of a terrorist group.”
He added that military personnel committed abuses “with the complicity of the military hierarchy.”
Mr Sangare was arrested late Saturday, but his arrest was confirmed by his family on Sunday.
Mali’s Ministry of Defense last Friday denied the claims published in the book, calling them “false.”
Several international human rights organizations have accused the Malian military of abusing and executing civilians in the fight against Islamic militants.