Boureima Amadou
Mali court jails journalist for criticizing military rulers
Journalist Chahana Takiou, editor of the biweekly 22 Septembre, was sentenced to one year in prison on Monday, August 3, with six months to be served without suspension. The ruling comes after remarks he made during the Pan-African Media Forum in Bamako, where he sharply criticized the country’s transition authorities.
The case has reignited concerns about press freedom in Mali, where government critics argue that media professionals are increasingly targeted for their work.
Takiou was arrested in early June and charged following his outspoken statements at the forum. He condemned the use of cybercrime laws to prosecute journalists, insisting that press offenses should be handled under media-specific legislation. His declaration that “journalism is the same under all skies” drew applause from some attendees, but appears to have provoked a strong reaction from authorities.
Press freedom under pressure in Mali
One of Takiou’s lawyers described the sentence as harsher than anticipated. Since seizing power in the 2020 coup, the transitional government led by General Assimi Goïta has faced repeated accusations from human rights and press freedom groups of curtailing public discourse through prosecutions, arrests, and political party dissolutions.
This latest conviction occurs against a backdrop of ongoing insecurity in Mali, driven by jihadist attacks, communal violence, and persistent political instability.
