(Ecofin Agency) - The members of the Union des Associations et Coordination d’Associations pour le Développement, la Défense des Droits des Démunis (UACDDDD) at a press conference held last Sunday strongly reaffirmed their determination to countering “land predators”.

The Malian civic society organization has in sight three main issues it wants to tackle: first is the announced demolition of Bamako’s banana market, second is the expropriation of five land owners to build a mosque, and the threat to evict 149 families from their homes in Kabala East issued by Sidiki Toïna, surveyor at the Geographic Institute of Mali (IGM) with a land title to back it. The news was reported by website Malijet.

“Mr. Taka Meminta who is in charge of judicial affairs at UACDDDD, at the opening of the press conference, hesitated not to denounce the inconsiderate attitude of Malian authorities letting land predators do as it pleases them. The victims of those shameless which take lands from their rightful owners often are stripped from their properties because of the low financial resources. To end these practices, he called unto the government to be fair,” the site states.

Determined to see the requests of UACDDDD met, the organization’s president invited judicial authorities to be impartial and objective in processing complaints related to land.

Souha Touré