Malian Journalist Detained, Faces Trial for Criticising Niger Military Leader

A prominent Malian journalist is currently being held in custody and is awaiting trial on charges related to his published criticism of Niger’s military leadership, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported. Youssouf Sissoko, the publishing director of the privately owned weekly L’Alternance, was arrested and charged by Mali’s National Cybercrime Unit after a commentary in his newspaper questioned statements made by Niger’s ruling military figure about a jihadist attack.

Sissoko was detained on 5 February 2026 and formally charged with spreading false news, undermining the credibility of the state, and offending a foreign head of state under Mali’s legal code. Authorities allege that a political analyst’s commentary published in L’Alternance unfairly suggested that Niger’s military leader was either lying or that his intelligence services were incompetent regarding their account of an assault on an army base in the Nigerien capital, Niamey. The trial has been scheduled for 9 March 2026, according to local press publishers’ associations.

Critics of Sissoko’s detention, including press freedom advocates and the Malian Association of Print Media Publishers, expressed deep concern about the circumstances of his arrest and called for his release while the case proceeds. They argue that criminalising critical commentary undermines journalistic work and restricts freedom of expression at a time when independent media already face significant legal and political pressures in the region.

CPJ’s Francophone Africa representative highlighted that the action against Sissoko is part of a broader trend in which authorities in Mali and neighbouring countries have increasingly constricted space for independent reporting. In recent years, press freedom in Mali has deteriorated, with several journalists arrested, media outlets suspended and international publications banned for content deemed unfavourable by military-led governments.

Observers say the charges against Sissoko — particularly the allegation of offending a foreign leader — are unusual and raise concerns about the use of cybercrime and national security statutes to target journalists. Rights organisations contend that detentions linked to critical reporting create an environment of fear that inhibits public debate and diminishes press independence.

Sissoko’s case underscores ongoing threats to journalists in West Africa, where legal reprisals and restrictive laws are increasingly deployed against media professionals covering sensitive political and security matters. International advocates have urged Malian authorities to respect press freedom norms and ensure that journalists can operate without fear of prosecution for legitimate reporting and commentary.

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Mali: Journalist jailed on charges of insulting Niger’s military leader

Malian journalist in prison awaiting trial for offending Niger’s military leader