The reach of military justice has once again fallen heavily upon prominent voices in Mali. Mohamed Youssouf Bathily, widely recognized as Ras Bath, and the influential Rokia Doumbia, known to many as Rose « la vie chère », have been handed down significant sentences by a Bamako tribunal. Both were condemned to ten years of imprisonment, with three years suspended, resulting in an effective seven-year prison term.

Accused of « association de malfaiteurs » (criminal conspiracy) and « atteinte au crédit de l’État » (harming the state’s credit), the radio commentator and the activist campaigning against the high cost of living are now paying a steep price for their persistent critiques of Mali’s transitional authorities, currently led by General Assimi Goïta.

A growing roster of public and political figures silenced in Mali

Far from being an isolated incident, these recent convictions are indicative of a systematic wave of repression sweeping across Mali, where any dissenting voice inevitably finds itself suppressed:

• Intimidating political figures: Étienne Fakaba Sissoko, a respected economist and former presidential advisor, is currently serving a prison sentence. His offense? Publishing a book that critically examined the management of Mali’s transition. Prior to his case, former Justice Minister Malick Coulibaly and several leaders of opposition parties faced arbitrary prosecutions or detentions.
• Targeting civil society and activists: Clément Dembélé, a leading figure in Mali’s anti-corruption efforts, experienced detention after daring to question the strategic decisions made by those in power. Countless other social media activists have seen their accounts blocked or their freedoms curtailed for merely posting about the security or economic conditions within Mali.
• A heavy hand on the press and media: Local journalists operating in Mali confront ongoing threats of arrest or suspension from broadcasting. Simultaneously, several major international media outlets remain banned from operating within Malian territory.

Democracy stifled in the name of official discourse

For the collective of lawyers representing Ras Bath and Rose « la vie chère », this verdict unequivocally confirms the manipulation of Mali’s judicial system to quash any form of public debate. While the defense has promptly declared its intention to appeal to the Supreme Court, the underlying reality remains deeply troubling: in Mali, raising questions about the cost of living or the military’s governance now carries the weight of a state crime.