Malian Appeals Court Upholds Prison Sentence for Academic Criticizing Ruling Junta

In a landmark ruling, a Malian appeals court has upheld the prison sentence of Etienne Sissoko Fakaba, a prominent economist and university professor, convicted for his critiques of the junta. The decision, announced Monday, was confirmed by his lawyer, Ibrahim Marouf Sacko.

Sissoko, sentenced in May to two years in prison with one year suspended, faced charges of defamation, harming the state’s reputation, and disseminating false news. These stem from his controversial 2023 book, Propaganda, Agitation, and Harassment: Government Communication During the Transition in Mali, which accuses the junta of relying on propaganda and manipulation.

Despite delays in the trial, the Bamako court upheld his conviction. Sissoko, detained since March, has become a symbol of dissent in a country increasingly hostile to government critics. The junta, in power since coups in 2020 and 2021, has intensified its crackdown on opposition voices.

Sissoko, who previously advised ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, had also served prison time in 2022. His case highlights growing concerns over freedom of expression in Mali, a nation grappling with political instability and ongoing security crises fueled by insurgent and separatist conflicts.