2024-09-11 10:39:29
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There are men whose destiny seems to be woven with a thread of courage, integrity and self-denial. My friend Clément Dembélé, university professor, activist and tireless defender of the rights of the Malian common people, is one of them. Today, as he languishes unjustly in the jails of the Malian junta, I want to pay tribute to this man who, even in the darkest hours, refuses to give up his freedom of speech and his convictions.
Clément is no stranger to repression. Under the regime of Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta (IBK), he had already tasted the brutality of power for having dared to denounce the corruption and injustices that plague Mali. Today, under another regime, that of the junta, his fight for justice and human dignity has once again led to him being silenced. But if he is physically imprisoned, his spirit remains free and indomitable.
Clément, the voice of the voiceless
Those who know Clément Dembélé know that his commitment has never been motivated by personal ambition. Throughout his career, he has been the voice of the oppressed, the forgotten, those who, crushed by the abuse of power and social injustices, could not defend themselves alone. His fight for a more just society, where every Malian could live with dignity, has never weakened, even in the face of threats and persecution.
Clement is one of those rare individuals who would rather sacrifice their physical freedom than betray their principles. Despite attempts at pressure and offers of parole, he refused to compromise himself, to give up his freedom of speech and his ideals. This courageous choice, although painful, speaks volumes about the strength of his character and his unwavering commitment to the truth.
Unjustly imprisoned, but never defeated
Today, Clément is being held without trial, before the eyes of a world that often seems indifferent. But the truth is that those who imprison Clément Dembélé do not understand that you cannot imprison an idea, that you cannot lock up the freedom of such an alert and resolute spirit. History teaches us that those who stand up against injustice always end up triumphing, even if their victory is not immediate.
I pay tribute to my friend, my brother, not only for his courage, but for the hope he embodies. Because despite the bars that surround him, he remains a living symbol of resistance. His fight for a free and just Mali is that of many Malians who, like him, aspire to a more equitable society. By refusing to give in to arbitrariness, Clément reminds us that true freedom is not negotiable, and that the chains imposed by injustice can never imprison it.
A call for solidarity and justice
This tribute is also a cry from the heart, a call for solidarity with Clément and all those who, like him, are silenced because they dared to denounce what is unjust. It is our duty not to forget these discreet heroes, these shadow fighters who sacrifice their personal comfort for a greater ideal.
Clement, my friend, you are not alone. Your ideas continue to resonate, and your struggle inspires every day those who aspire to a more just Mali. One day, the light of truth will triumph over the darkness of injustice. And when that day comes, your name will be engraved in the history of your country as that of a man who never bowed under the weight of oppression.
Until that day, we will continue to carry your voice, defend your ideals and fight for your freedom. Because a society that imprisons its righteous men is a society that betrays its deepest values. Clément Dembélé, you are, and you will remain, an example for us all.
Your brother and friend
Saliou Diallo of the Republic of Guinea
Conakry