Mali jails broadcaster, influencer critical of junta for seven years

A Malian court has handed down seven-year prison sentences to a prominent broadcaster and an influencer who had openly criticized the country's ruling military junta. The convictions mark the latest instance of the unstable West African nation's military government cracking down on dissent following back-to-back coups in 2020 and 2021.

Mohamed Youssouf Bathily, a well-known television and radio commentator who goes by the alias Ras Bath, and Rokia Doumbia, an activist recognized online as "Rose, the cost of living," were found guilty of criminal conspiracy and discrediting the state. Both had been in custody for several years after a 2023 program aired by Ras Bath addressed the economic hardships faced by ordinary Malians.

Adding to their seven-year sentences, they received three-year suspended terms. Ras Bath's gaunt appearance upon taking the stand in his trial, which began August 10, shocked many Malians. Prosecutors reportedly argued that Ras Bath posed a "danger" to the junta and "must be kept a long way from social media and the radio," according to two anonymous lawyers.

Prosecutors alleged that the broadcaster and influencer were "in association," with Ras Bath having featured "Rose" on his show twice previously. Ras Bath's legal team has denied these accusations. Known for his direct and plain-speaking style under the motto "shock to educate," Ras Bath has cultivated a significant following, particularly among Mali's youth, but has also faced multiple legal challenges.

Since seizing power, the army has imposed stringent restrictions on freedoms in Mali, curtailing the space for dissenting voices through judicial means, coercion, and the dissolution of political parties. General Assimi Goita's junta has also failed to meet its promise of returning power to civilian rule by March 2024. The Sahel country has been grappling with a severe security crisis since 2012, fueled by jihadist violence linked to Al-Qaeda or the Islamic State group, alongside criminal gangs and armed separatists.

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Ras Bath is a danger to the junta and must be kept a long way from social media and the radio.