Malian Economist Sentenced for Criticizing Military Junta
Prominent Malian economist and professor Étienne Fakaba Sissoko has been sentenced to two years in prison, with one year suspended, following his criticism of the country’s military junta. Sissoko has also been fined 3 million CFA francs ($4,900; £3,900).
The 41-year-old academic, detained since March, was charged with defamation and harming the state’s reputation by distributing false information. These charges stem from a book he published last year, which he defended in court, asserting it was based on factual information.
Human rights groups see Sissoko’s case as part of a broader crackdown on critics and political opponents of Mali’s military rulers, who seized power in August 2020 after ousting President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta amid large-scale protests over his handling of jihadist unrest.
Sissoko’s lawyer, Ibrahim Marhouf Sacko, expressed no surprise at the verdict and announced plans to appeal, according to AFP. The University of Bamako professor, who once advised the late President Keïta, previously spent several months in jail in 2022.
The book that led to Sissoko’s recent arrest, titled “Propaganda, Agitation, and Harassment: Government Communication During the Transition in Mali,” accuses the junta of using manipulation and falsehoods to shape public opinion. Before his arrest, Sissoko also posted on Facebook, calling for elections.
The military junta has faced significant criticism for delaying the transition to civilian rule. Elections scheduled for February were postponed again. Critics argue that the junta has not effectively addressed the escalating jihadist insurgency, despite deploying Wagner Group mercenaries and expelling UN peacekeepers. The government’s economic management has also come under fire.
Earlier this month, a “national dialogue” suggested extending the transition period by another three years. Over the past year, several junta critics have been imprisoned, including social media influencer Rokia Doumbia and activist Adama Ben Diarra. In April, the junta suspended political activities and imposed a media blackout on political coverage.
