Criminalisation of journalism in Mali: Abdrahamane Kéita of Le Témoin sentenced to two years in prison

On Monday, 14 September, Mali's National Unit for the Fight Against Cybercrime sentenced Abdrahamane Kéita, the publication director of Le Témoin, to two years in prison. He must also pay a fine of one million CFA francs (approximately 1,500 EUR). Imprisoned since 9 June , the journalist was prosecuted for "a regionalist offence that tends to undermine national unity and the credibility of the state" and "disseminating false or misleading information through an information system."

A regular guest on the television programme "Grand Jury" on the channel Renouveau TV, Abdrahamane Kéïta had spoken on the programme days earlier about the security situation in northern Mali following coordinated attacks against military and civilian areas. He notably mentioned that the city of Kidal, in northern Mali, was "administered" by the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM). During his trial on 7 September, the journalist explained that he had repeated a term that had already been used by another person present on the programme and denied having personally "disseminated" any "false information." The defence called for his acquittal, while the prosecution sought a three-year prison sentence, including two years to be served.

This is not the first time that a journalist has been convicted by the National Unit for the Fight Against Cybercrime. On 3 August, Chahana Takiou, publication director of 22 Septembre, was sentenced to one year in prison, including six months without parole, after denouncing the use of this law against the press. On March 23, Youssouf Sissoko, publication director of L'Alternance, was sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to pay one million CFA francs in damages for publishing an article critical of Nigerien President Abdourahamane Tiani. RSF condemned this criminalisation of journalism critical of the leaders of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

The criminalisation of journalism is also becoming an increasingly common means of repression internationally, as demonstrated by the RSF 2026 World Press Freedom Index: the legal indicator has experienced its sharpest decline this year.

Since the beginning of the transition led by General Assimi Goïta, conditions for practising journalism have deteriorated significantly in Mali, amid media suspensions, legal proceedings and pressure that fosters self-censorship. The deterioration of the security situation also exposes journalists to increased risks in the course of their work.