A Malian court on Monday sentenced prominent broadcaster Mohamed Youssouf Bathily, popularly known as Ras Bath, and influencer Rokia Doumbia, also known as “Rose, the cost of living”, to seven years in prison for criticising the country’s ruling military junta, an AFP journalist reported.
The court in Bamako also handed both defendants an additional three-year suspended sentence, in the latest legal action against outspoken critics of Mali’s military government.
Ras Bath, a well-known television and radio commentator, was convicted of criminal conspiracy and discrediting the state. Doumbia, a campaigner who has gained a following online, was convicted alongside him.
The pair had been detained since March 2023 after Ras Bath aired a programme focusing on the economic hardships facing ordinary Malians. Prosecutors accused them of acting together, citing Doumbia’s appearances on his programme.
Their lawyers rejected the allegations.
Ras Bath’s appearance in court drew widespread attention, with his visibly weakened condition after years in detention shocking many observers. The trial began on August 10 at the criminal chamber of the Bamako Court of Appeal.
According to two lawyers who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity, prosecutors described Ras Bath as a threat to the junta and argued that he should be kept away from social media and radio.
Known for his blunt and outspoken style under the motto “shock to educate”, Ras Bath has built a large following, particularly among young Malians, while also facing repeated legal battles.
He was acquitted in July 2023 of separate charges related to claims that former prime minister Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga had been assassinated while in detention under the military authorities.
Mali has seen growing restrictions on political and civil freedoms since the military seized power in coups in 2020 and 2021. Under General Assimi Goita, the junta has tightened its grip on dissent through legal action, pressure on critics and the dissolution of political parties.
The military government has also failed to fulfil its pledge to restore civilian rule by March 2024.
Meanwhile, Mali continues to face a prolonged security crisis that began in 2012, driven by attacks from jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and Islamic State, as well as criminal networks and armed separatist groups.
