While some newsrooms are reluctant to tackle the subject of slavery, Malian journalist Maliki Diallo conducted an investigation on slavery that earned him a prestigious prize. Discover his testimony.
While some newsrooms are reluctant to tackle the subject of slavery, Malian journalist Maliki Diallo conducted an investigation on slavery that earned him the first prize for the Prevention of Violent Extremism in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin in late 2019. Since then, he continues to be interested in these topics and notably participated in a workshop on forced labour organized by the International Labour Organization in Bamako.
50 for Freedom (50FF): Can you tell us more about the issue of descent-based slavery in Mali?
Maliki Diallo (MD): In Mali, slavery is a sad reality. Even now, some families are still considered like slaves and are treated as such. The phenomenon took a new turn in 2017 with the creation of an association set up by the victims. This association revealed the existence of the practice of slavery in the region of Kayes, in western Mali. The association conducted awareness raising campaigns among the victim families and they decided to take their “independence” by refusing to submit to slavery-like practices. All the families who dared to say no to slavery were chased out of their villages. At least two people were killed.
50FF: You conducted a thorough investigation. How did it go?
MD: I noticed that the media does not cover enough the subject of slavery, which is considered sensitive by many newsrooms. The cases of aggression of people considered as slaves were and still are treated as simple news. This is why I decided, with the agreement of my editors, to go beyond a simple report.
Unfortunately, at the time we did not have the budget for major reports and investigations. The subject was treated thanks to funding from the Nobert Zongo Unit for Investigative Journalism in West Africa. In the end, it is a 52-minute investigation broadcast in October 2019 by Renouveau TV.
50FF: What are the lessons you have learned from your journalistic work on this issue?
MD: The investigation reveals the malaise of the Malian State on this affair, the weakness of the legal arsenal to address the problem and the threat to the region of Kayes with this history of slavery.
The main lesson I learned from it, is that it is important to enforce the laws. And not to opt for an “amicable” resolution. Unfortunately, the situation is getting worse. At the beginning of May 2021, more than 100 people considered slaves fled to Bamako.
50FF: What practical difficulties did you encounter and how did you overcome them?
MD: The difficulties encountered are enormous. Some key actors refuse to answer journalists’ questions on the subject. They give us appointments but do not come in the end. Some agree to speak but only on condition of anonymity. Some people were prohibited from receiving us. The other difficulty was the question of violence. I was finally able to film in a village that nine families were forced to flee after being subjected to physical and psychological violence.
50FF: You recently participated in a training session in Bamako on forced labour, descent-based slavery and discrimination based on slavery. What did this training brought to your work?
MD: The workshop took place over three days in Bamako from June 1 to 3, 2021, in the presence of about fifteen journalists and representatives of the Malian civil society. This workshop is part of the DRL Mali project, which aims to combat slavery – especially descent-based slavery – forced labour and related discrimination.
The workshop allowed me to discover the ILO Toolkit. It is a goldmine for journalists. It addresses many of our concerns. I learned a lot about forced labour itself and I also learned how to choose a good story on forced labour. In fact, we proposed and validated more than a dozen topics during the workshop, including a video on slavery and discrimination.
50FF: Malian journalists have organized themselves into a network after this workshop. What do you expect from this network?
MD: The establishment of the network is very important in my view. The network will create a framework for exchange between us, journalists specialized on slavery and forced labour. We share our experiences and contacts. I believe that the main mission of the network will be the production of quality content on the said issues in order to encourage decision makers to take responsibility. In the long run, we hope that our journalistic work will help change practices and make descent-based slavery disappear in Mali.
