MALI After the thief was caught in the act, an angry mob quickly gathered around him. They showed him absolutely no mercy, attacked him with machetes, and eventually set his body on fire.
In Mali, the lynching of people suspected of crimes is a common occurrence. The country is at war with terrorists, the security forces do not function well, and people have no trust in them. Extreme reactions to theft are also fueled by the poverty of the population – when someone tries to steal something from them, it is often their only possession and a direct threat to their livelihood.
Unfortunately, there have been many cases in which innocent people died during lynchings. The Malian government is actively trying to combat this through awareness campaigns. However, it will certainly take some time before these practices disappear from the population’s moral and cultural norms.
If you ever find yourself in a similar situation as a witness to a lynching, never get involved. Always remember that every criminal, even the worst one, has the right to a fair trial and punishment in accordance with the law. Always call the police to the scene.
