Étienne Fakaba Sissoko, a prominent Malian economist and professor has been sentenced to two years in jail for criticizing the military junta in Mali. He was also ordered to pay a fine of 3 million CFA (equivalent to US$ 4,970).
The 41-year-old academic has been in custody since March as he was charged with defamation and for damaging the reputation of the state with fake news. The charges are in relation to a book published by the professor last year which he had to defend in court, saying that the book was based on facts.
This is the latest case in a widespread crackdown on critics and opponents of the military. The junta-led government assumed power in August 2020, after overthrowing former president Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta in a coup after a series of anti-government protests over his handling of jihadist unrest.
A number of junta critics have been jailed over the last year, including popular social media influencer Rokia Doumbia and prominent activist Adama Ben Diarra.
Sissoko’s lawyer, Ibrahim Marhouf Sacko, said he was not surprised by the verdict and would be filing an appeal, the AFP news agency reported. The professor once served as an advisor to former president Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta.
His work, “Propaganda, Agitation and Harassment- government communication during the Transition in Mali” is what prompted his latest arrest. It accuses the junta for manipulating public opinion in its favour. He called for elections to be held in his recent post on Facebook, shortly before he was arrested.
The junta has been criticized for reneging on agreed timelines for transitioning to democratic civilian rule.
Earlier this year, the junta also suspended political activities and imposed a media blackout on political coverage.
Elections due to be held in February were again postponed. The junta has failed to tackle the worsening jihadist insurgencies despite the reported deployment of Wagner group mercenaries and the expulsion of UN peacekeepers.
In a national dialogue held earlier this month, participants suggested the extension of the transition period by another three years.
Source: www.bbc.com ,
