28 October, 2020
In Memory of Diallo Abdul Gadiry

To the family and friends of Diallo Abdul Gadiry

I am saddened by the news that my colleague and long-time friend Diallo Abdul Gadiry is no more.

On behalf of AfricanDefenders (Pan African Human Rights Defenders Network) & DefendDefenders (East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project), I would like to pay a tribute to a friend we honour and respect. His great love of people was rooted in his faith.

As African human rights defenders fraternity, our hearts are filled with sorrow as we mourn Diallo’s death. Losing someone we love is nothing easy, Diallo’s passing is even more painful to us. Knowing that we were part of his life, we can realize that we were blessed to have been able to share in his life.

Diallo was an ardent founding member of the West African Human Rights Defenders Network, a Steering committee member of AfricanDefenders and the Forum for the Participation of NGOs to the ACHPR Sessions. We can’t weigh the energy he invested, the enthusiasm and dedication he put to promote and protect human rights in West Africa. Given the difficulties of travelling within the continent, Diallo would oftentimes cross rivers or ocean move through the desert and use many inter-regional connections to attend sessions of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights to raise awareness or simply for solidarity with others.

We note numerous sacrifices and risks he made for the protection of the vulnerable. This courageous intellectual was an investigative journalist in West Africa who never shied away from controversial topics. Diallo leaves behind a legacy of enriched human rights defenders across West Africa and his loss will be felt deeply by many, especially those for whom he secured justice.

Prayers and fond memories of a man who embodies the spirit of a true human rights champion and values of unity are what we have to remember our dear Diallo Abdul Gadiry.

As Helen Steiner Rice said: “There is no night without a dawning, No winter without a spring. And beyond the dark horizon, our hearts will once more sing…For those who leave us for a while have only gone away out of a restless, careworn world into a brighter day.”

I would like to express my heartfelt and deepest condolences to his family and friends.  May the Almighty Allah provide comfort and peace to his family to get them through the days ahead.

May the soul of our departed friend rest in eternal peace.