Malian journalist Youssouf Sissoko has been sentenced to two years in prison for criticising the country's military leader, Abdourahamane Tiani. The conviction, confirmed by his lawyer and press freedom groups, stems from comments made on social media in late 2025.
Sissoko, a reporter for the privately-owned newspaper L'Indépendant, was found guilty of "undermining state security" and "insulting the head of state." The court in Bamako delivered the verdict on March 21, 2026, following a trial that has drawn international condemnation from human rights organisations.
The case is part of a broader crackdown on dissent in Mali since the military seized power in 2021. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has documented a significant decline in press freedom, with multiple journalists facing arrest and media outlets being suspended under the current regime.
International press freedom advocates, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), have called for Sissoko's immediate release, stating the sentence is a severe blow to free speech. The Malian authorities have not publicly commented on the specific details of the case.
