Mali: Four Human Rights Defenders and Journalists Sentenced Amid Shrinking Civic Space

On August 17, 2026, Mali's Court of Appeal sentenced Mohamed Youssouf Bathily, known as Ras Bath, and Sidibé Rokia Doumbia, known as Rose la Vie Chère, to ten years in prison for association of criminals and attacking state credit through information and communication technologies, following their public statements and activism.

Mohamed Youssouf Bathily, a journalist, radio host, and leader of the Collective for the Defense of the Republic (CDR), was first arrested on March 13, 2023, after claiming former Prime Minister Soumeylou Boubèye Maïga was assassinated; he was initially released in July 2023 but later convicted in March 2024 to nine months in prison, with eight months suspended, before being held longer and recharged in a new procedure for association of criminals and attacking state credit.

Sidibé Rokia Doumbia, a social rights defender and activist against high living costs, was arrested on March 13, 2023, after posting a TikTok video criticizing high prices, electricity cuts, and calling the political transition an "failure"; she was first convicted in August 2023, then released on appeal in July 2024 on some charges, yet remained detained for a second procedure involving association of criminals and attacking state credit.

On August 3, 2026, Adama Ben Diarra, known as Ben le Cerveau, leader of the movement Yerewolo debout sur les remparts and former military ally, was sentenced to five years in prison for threats and insults via an information system, having been arrested on September 5, 2023, for denouncing extrajudicial arrests and calling for transition respect, and previously sentenced to six months in February 2024 for attacking state credit.

Also on August 3, 2026, journalist Chahana Takiou, director of 22 Septembre, received a one-year sentence for attacking state credit through the judicial institution, following his arrest in June 2026 for comments made at the Pan-African Media Forum in Bamako where he criticized using cybercrime laws to target journalists instead of press offenses.

On August 16, 2026, Boubacar Samaké, known as Boutros Ghaly, a CDR member, was arrested by cybercrime authorities and placed under pre-trial detention on August 20, 2026, for involvement in CDR-organized protests during Ras Bath's trial.

These five cases reflect a broader trend since the May 2021 coup where judicial proceedings are increasingly used to punish public criticism, employing charges like attacking state credit and cybercrime laws to suppress civil society and press freedom.

The Observatory notes that accusations of attacking state credit and cybercrime provisions are recurring tools of repression against critical voices, illustrating a concerning trend of using the judiciary to sanction legitimate freedom of expression.

The Observatory calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all arbitrarily detained individuals who have exercised their human rights defense activities and demands the Malian authorities abandon all charges against them.

Finally, the Observatory urges Malian authorities to ensure judicial independence, uphold fair trial guarantees, and strictly respect the rights to freedom of expression and opinion in line with the country's international obligations.