Malian national Yaya Cissé, sentenced to death in Mauritania for his alleged role in the 2010 murder of a tour guide in Nouadhibou, has been officially transferred to Mali, the country’s Ministry of Justice and Human Rights confirmed on Thursday.
The repatriation was carried out under the framework of the General Convention on Judicial Cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and the Republic of Mali.
It marks the end of a protracted legal and diplomatic campaign spanning more than a decade.
Cissé was arrested on March 30, 2012, and convicted on July 28 of that same year by the Criminal Court of Nouadhibou.
He was accused of participating in the fatal attack on July 26, 2010. However, he has consistently denied any involvement, asserting that he was not in Mauritania at the time of the incident.
His conviction was upheld by the Court of Appeal on December 23, 2012, and reaffirmed by Mauritania’s Supreme Court on May 4, 2013.
During his trial, Cissé submitted administrative documents and phone records in a bid to substantiate his claim of absence from Mauritanian territory on the date of the murder.
Over the years, human rights organisations, legal advocates, and members of the Malian diaspora rallied for his transfer, pressing both governments through sustained judicial and diplomatic channels.
Their efforts culminated in an agreement between the two nations that allowed for his return to Mali to serve out his sentence.
In its official statement, Mali’s Ministry of Justice commended Mauritania for its cooperation and acknowledged the crucial role played by civil society, human rights defenders, and Malian associations abroad.
The ministry also praised the transitional government’s commitment to handling such complex and sensitive legal cases.
Cissé’s supporters remain vocal, calling for a judicial review of his case in Mali.
They argue that the evidence used in his conviction warrants reevaluation under Malian law, and continue to assert his innocence.
Source: apanews
