A prominent Malian political dissident was detained in Bamako on Wednesday following demands from Burkina Faso, where authorities accused him of making extremely serious comments critical of the country’s military junta.
Mali and Burkina Faso, both under military rule following coups in 2020 and 2022, have allied with Niger in the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a confederation of junta-led governments in the region. These governments have implemented stringent measures against press freedom, including bans on foreign media outlets and the silencing of journalists and opposition figures.
Issa Kaou N’Djim, a former supporter of Mali’s junta leader Colonel Assimi Goita, made his contentious remarks during a broadcast on Joliba TV News on Sunday. Burkina Faso’s media regulator claimed N’Djim’s statements were intended to discredit Burkina’s authorities, alleging without evidence that recent reports of attempted destabilisation were fabricated.
In response, Burkina Faso requested that Mali’s High Authority for Communication take action. Subsequently, N’Djim was arrested and placed in Bamako’s civil prison on charges of publicly insulting a foreign head of state and using an information system to make offensive remarks, according to sources at the prison and judiciary.
A relative of N’Djim reported that he was detained by plainclothes officers on Wednesday morning, who said he was needed for questioning.
Previously, N’Djim held the position of vice president in Mali’s National Transitional Council (CNT), the legislative arm of the military government, but has since distanced himself from the junta and advocated for a swift transition to civilian rule.
This is not N’Djim’s first clash with authorities; in December 2021, he received a suspended six-month prison sentence for ‘undermining state authority’ over comments on social media. He has also faced travel restrictions.
Burkina Faso’s junta frequently reports alleged destabilisation attempts, leading to the arrest of several individuals, including military and civilian suspects, with the latest incident occurring in September. A journalist in Niger was also detained on Wednesday in connection with similar accusations by Burkina Faso’s authorities.
