As part of our global research on child abuse in sport, Human Rights Watch has documented a pattern of sexual harassment and abuse by Mr. Amadou Bamba, the current head coach of Mali’s Under-18 girls’ national basketball team (which is overseen by the Mali Basketball Federation, a member of FIBA).

This letter is meant to inform you of the reports against Bamba, inquire about FIBA’s prior knowledge of Bamba’s abuse, request FIBA’s response to our findings, and urge FIBA to take immediate steps to protect Malian girls in basketball from abuse. We do so in accordance with the policy contained within FIBA’s “Five Pillars of Safeguarding Rights of Children and Adults at Risk,” which iterates “zero tolerance” for sexual harassment and abuse of players, including the abuse of children by their coaches.

In March, April, May, and June of 2020, Human Rights Watch interviewed several current and former players on the Under-18 girls’ national basketball team, their family members, and others involved in girls’ basketball in Mali. These individuals reported to Human Rights Watch that Bamba raped, sexually assaulted, and sexually harassed numerous players on the Under-18 team, at least as recently as 2020 and dating back to 2016, his first year as the team’s head coach.

Bamba also reportedly retaliated against players who refused to have sex with him, including threatening to have them imprisoned, taken off the team, and/or lose their playing time. These reports of abuse include...

According to child protection experts within Mali’s basketball and sporting community, Bamba’s history of sexual abuse is widely known, suggesting a long pattern of abusive behavior...

The Mali Basketball Federation has oversight over the Under-18 girls’ national basketball team, including the selection of the coach. Players and athlete family members told Human Rights Watch that they had alerted the Mali Basketball Federation in 2020 and 2021 to Bamba’s abuse, but that the Federation had taken no action to address the reported abuses.

To the contrary, one victim told Human Rights Watch that she spoke to the Federation in 2020 to tell them about Bamba’s attempt to have sex with her. The player said that the Federation would secure her a spot on the team if she did not officially report Bamba: “[They] said if I don’t disobey Bamba, then I can be on the team.”...

In light of these reports, we would like to request FIBA’s response to the following questions:

1. Does FIBA have any knowledge of the reports of sexual abuse by Mr. Bamba?

2. If yes, is FIBA aware of any investigations into Mr. Bamba’s reported abuses?

3. What actions, if any, does FIBA plan to take in response to Mr. Bamba’s reported abuses and on what timeline?

Given the reported danger Bamba poses to the girls he coaches, and the failure of the Mali Basketball Federation to take action, Human Rights Watch urges FIBA to intervene and take the following step...