Mali

Authorities in Mali have detained ex-premier Moussa Mara, accusing him of “undermining the credibility of the state” after he publicly shared accounts of visits to political prisoners.

Journalist Alfousseini Togo was handed an eight-month suspended sentence along with a fine after challenging official claims about public trust in Mali’s judiciary.

The Media Foundation for West Africa has condemned the arrest of Malian journalist Seydou Oumar Traoré – ironically, not for criticising his own government but for allegedly insulting Guinea’s leader.

Mali’s ruling military junta has enacted a law abolishing multiparty democracy and banning activities by opposition parties.

Mali’s military junta has banned all political parties, amid growing opposition protests against a national conference recommendation, to extend General Assimi Goïta’s rule until 2030.

Issa Kaou N’Djim, an activist and critic of the Burkinabé junta, was handed a two-year prison sentence, with one year suspended, for his comments made during the fateful TV programme.

Burkina Faso’s media has taken the audacious step of lodging a formal complaint with its counterpart in Mali against independent Malian Joliba TV News station.

The risks for the LGBTQI+ community intensify amidst ongoing human rights concerns, with the passage of a new anti-gay law.

Dr Etienne Fakaba Sissoko is hit with a 2-year sentence and hefty fine for his critical observations of the military government’s rule.

Mali’s government has banned the media from covering all activities of political parties.

The murder of Abdoul Aziz Djibrilla and abduction of Saleck Ag Jiddou and Moustapha Koné is an indciation of how journalists in the Sahel region are constantly at risk.

An attack on 4 journalists culminates in the death of Abdul Aziz Djibrilla, injury of Harouna Attini and abduction of Saleck Ag Jiddou and Moustaph Koné.

In a crackdown on critical voices Malian authorities sentence activist and social media influencer, Rokia Doumbia, also known as #Madame vie chère, to one year in prison.

Freelance French reporter Olivier Dubois, who was abducted in April 2021, holds the unenviable record of being one of France’s longest-held hostages.

Mali’s current transitional government’s heavy-handed tactics in dealing with the media are pushing journalists to self-censor.

The growing precariousness of journalists comes at a time of increased freedom of expression and media rights violations across the region, which is forcing many journalists to self-censor or abandon the profession.