Malian journalist jailed after criticising junta at media forum

Chahana Takiou, publisher of the biweekly newspaper ’22 September’, was placed in detention on Monday after being summoned by the cybercrime prosecutor for remarks made against the ruling junta during a pan-African media forum in Bamako.

Judicial sources confirmed that Chahana Takiou is being held under a warrant of commitment for “undermining the credit of the state through the judiciary.” His trial is scheduled for 27 July. Family members verified the detention.

During the Pan-African Media Forum, held in Bamako from 3 to 6 June, Takiou openly criticised the junta in a panel moderated by Idrissa Hamidou Touré, a prosecutor from a Bamako court. He declared, “There is no dynamic of peace in Mali. You arrest journalists and instead of judging them under the press regime and press offences in Mali, you apply the cybercrime law.”

The Maison de la Presse in Mali issued a statement on Monday evening expressing its “incomprehension” and “deep concern” over the journalist’s incarceration. The statement condemned the warrant, calling it “a flagrant and serious attack on freedom of opinion and the press” and asserted that it “tarnishes the image of justice, the press, and our country.”