Disappearance of Moroccan Drivers in Mali Raises Widespread Concern and Calls for Immediate Intervention

Six Moroccan professional drivers have disappeared in Mali under mysterious circumstances, causing growing concern among truck drivers crossing into the depths of Africa, with urgent demands for Moroccan authorities to intervene and rescue them.

The details of the incident date back to the past three days, when Malian authorities detained the drivers on the pretext of 'causing injury to a person,' without any official explanations regarding the circumstances of the arrest or the location of detention, further increasing the ambiguity of the situation and the concern of their colleagues and families.

One driver in the region confirmed that attempts to contact the Moroccan consulate have failed, stating that 'no one answers the calls or reacts to the situation, even though it concerns Moroccan citizens facing an unknown fate.'

Video clips and photos shared by a network of drivers showed that the trucks of the detainees are still in place, with their doors open and their equipment and belongings scattered, displaying signs of neglect and mistreatment, amidst increasing calls for urgent official action.

The professional drivers have called for direct intervention from the Moroccan consulate and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, warning against leaving the drivers to face an uncertain fate, especially in a fragile and unstable legal environment. Some of them believe that a minor incident could turn into a tragedy in the absence of any diplomatic or legal support.

This incident comes amid a tense security context in Mali since the military council took control, with escalating violence and a decline in regional security coordination, and the growing influence of armed groups, especially in border areas.

Professionals have warned that traveling through Sahel countries has become increasingly risky, with reduced security protection, the proliferation of roadblocks, and the limited role of Moroccan diplomatic representations in supporting drivers during crises.

In a similar context, the incident brought to mind the disappearance of four Moroccan drivers while transporting an electrical equipment shipment on the road between Niger and Burkina Faso, between the towns of 'Dori' and 'Tera,' known for their poor security situation and the activity of armed groups.

The families of the missing drivers previously stated that they lost contact with their relatives without any official information about their fate so far, calling for the activation of a permanent crisis cell within Moroccan representations in Sahel countries, and providing legal support mechanisms and immediate assistance in every emergency situation, to safeguard the safety and rights of professionals.

The question remains about the extent of the Moroccan authorities' response to these appeals, amid ongoing official silence and the absence of any noticeable action, putting the lives of these drivers in real danger amidst mysterious and unstable security conditions.