On February 5, police in Mali’s capital Bamako detained Youssouf Sissoko, editor-in-chief of the weekly newspaper L’Alternance, following an article published earlier that week that questioned public statements by Niger’s military ruler, General Abdourahamane Tiani. Sissoko was charged with spreading false information and insulting a foreign head of state under Mali’s controversial cybercrime law, rights groups said.
Sissoko’s article challenged Tiani’s claims about a recent attack on Niamey’s international airport, which Nigerien authorities had blamed on foreign powers despite the assault being claimed by the Islamic State Sahel Province. The piece described some of Tiani’s remarks as misleading and criticized the handling of the situation.
After his arrest, Sissoko was taken before a prosecutor from Mali’s National Cybercrime Unit and ordered held in pretrial detention. His trial is scheduled for March 9 before a specialized anti-cybercrime tribunal, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW). Mali’s cybercrime law, adopted in 2019, has been widely criticized for its broad language that authorities can use to suppress dissent.
The Malian Association of Private Print Media Publishers condemned the detention and called for Sissoko’s release, saying the case represents a troubling escalation in restrictions on independent journalism. Reporters Without Borders also urged Malian authorities to free Sissoko and drop the charges against him, warning that the arrest reflects a shrinking space for media freedom in the Sahel.
Mali’s government has increasingly cracked down on political opposition and critics since the military seized power in back-to-back coups in 2020 and 2021. Independent outlets have been shut down or restricted, civil society organizations dissolved, and public debate tightly controlled. The cybercrime law’s vague provisions on “insults” and “false information” have enabled authorities to pursue journalists and commentators under the guise of preserving national security.
Sissoko’s arrest comes amid broader concerns about repression and alignment among Sahel military juntas, including in Niger and Burkina Faso, which have formed cooperative defense arrangements after a series of coups in the region. Critics argue that the three governments have moved to silence dissent and limit scrutiny of their handling of security crises, including extremist violence that continues to destabilize wide areas of West Africa.
The case has drawn attention from international press freedom advocates, who say it underscores how laws meant to protect cyberspace are instead being used to stifle legitimate journalism and public debate. Organizations including the Committee to Protect Journalists have called on Bamako to respect media freedoms and align its practices with international standards.
Sissoko’s detention highlights the precarious situation for journalists in Mali and the wider Sahel, where powerful security imperatives and political repression have severely limited freedom of expression in recent years.