NGOs urge Malian authorities for transparency on abduction of Mountaga Tall

International NGOs have urged Malian authorities for transparency on the whereabouts of prominent lawyer and politician Muntagatal, six months after his abduction. On the night of May 3rd, Muntagatal was abducted from his home in Bamako by armed and masked men. His son, Cheikh Mamadou Tal, went missing two weeks later and never returned. Six months on, their fates remain unknown. On Monday Amnesty International demanded that Malian authorities investigate the disappearances and disclose what happened to the two men. The NGO's regional director for West and Central Africa demanded proof that Tal and his son are alive. He said they should have access to their families, lawyers and doctors. Human Rights Watch issued a similar call on October 30th saying the lack of information raises fears for the men's safety and deepens their family's anguish. Muntagatal was the leader of the National Congress for Democratic Initiative, which was dissolved in 2025 alongside the rest of Mali's political parties. Tal had become known as a vocal critic of the military junta in the country.