Abuse of power & retaliationCourts & justice

Mali convicts three newspaper publishing directors under its cybercrime law in 2026, in cases press groups call retaliation for criticism

Confidence: Confirmed · 3 sourcesMali · Oct 12, 2026

Subject of this story

National Cybercrime Unit (Unité Centrale de Lutte contre la Cybercriminalité)

Pole national de lutte contre la cybercriminalite (Mali)

Also named

Affected

Youssouf Sissoko, Publishing director, L'Alternance

Chahana Takiou, Publishing director, 22 Septembre

Abdramane Keïta, Publishing director, Le Témoin

Advocate

Human Rights Watch

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)

Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières)

What happened

Between March and September 2026, Mali's national cybercrime court sentenced three newspaper publishing directors under the 2019 cybercrime law. Youssouf Sissoko of L'Alternance was sentenced on March 23, 2026 to two years and a 1 million CFA franc fine over an opinion article critical of Niger's leader Gen. Abdourahamane Tiani. Chahana Takiou of 22 Septembre, arrested June 8 after criticizing Sissoko's prosecution, was sentenced on August 3 to one year. Abdramane Keïta of Le Témoin, arrested June 9 after saying on a TV program that the armed group JNIM controlled Kidal, was sentenced on September 14 to two years. Human Rights Watch, CPJ and RSF have called for their release; Mali's authorities have not responded to CPJ's requests for comment.

By the numbers (1)

● confirmed by a primary document · ○ reported

Figures

○

Abdramane Keïta, publishing director of Le Témoin, was sentenced September 14, 2026 to two years in prison (2 years).

Abdramane Keïta2 years.

1 source

Human Rights Watchsentenced September 14, 2026 to two years in prison

Sources (3)

Human Rights WatchAbdramane Keïta, publishing director of Le Témoin, sentenced September 14, 2026 to two years in prison for stating on a broadcast that JNIM fighters controlled Kidal.

Committee to Protect JournalistsChahana Takiou and Abdramane Keïta arrested under Mali's 2019 cybercrime law in June 2026, days after Takiou publicly criticized the prosecution of fellow editor Youssouf Sissoko.

Reporters Without BordersBroadcast suspension and arrests of journalists: in Mali, nearly six years of transition marked by repression.

Response

National Cybercrime Unit (Unité Centrale de Lutte contre la Cybercriminalité)

On-record admission

Contacted and made an on-record admission — exact wording not on record.

Pole national de lutte contre la cybercriminalite (Mali)

Not yet contacted

Not yet contacted for this story.

What happened next (0)

No outcome recorded yet.

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