By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Malian authorities have slammed two years jail term on a prominent economist and University of Bamako professor, Étienne Fakaba Sissoko, one of which was suspended for his criticism of the country’s military junta.
Sissoko, 41, who has been in custody since March was also ordered to pay a fine of 3m CFA francs ($4,900; £3,900).
The academic, who has been in custody since March, was charged with defamation and damaging the state’s reputation by distributing fake news.
The charges against him are not unconnected with the damming allegations contained in his book published last year, which he has defended in court as work based on fact.
Right groups have condemned his jail sentence, saying it is the latest case in a widespread crackdown on critics and political opponents of the military government.
The junta had in August 2020 came to power after it ousted then President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta following massive anti-government protests over his handling of jihadist unrest.
Sissoko had served as an adviser to the late Mr Keïta and spent several months in jail in 2022, an AFP report says.
His legal representative, Ibrahim Marhouf Sacko, said he was “not surprised” by the judgement, saying he would challenge it at the appeal court.
The book that prompted his latest arrest and imprisonment is titled Propaganda, Agitation and Harassment – government communication during the transition in Mali.
He highlighted how the junta allegedly used manipulation and “even lies” to sway public opinion in its favour.
Before his arrest, Sissoko also published a post on Facebook calling for elections to be held.
Heritage Times HT reports that the junta-led government has faced criticism for not keeping to its promise of transitioning to democratic civilian rule within the timeline it set for itself.
Elections due to be held in February were again postponed.
The military-led government has also been accused by critics of failing to adequately tackle the worsening jihadist insurgency, despite the reported deployment of Wagner group mercenaries and expulsion of UN peacekeepers.
Several junta critics have been jailed over the last year, including popular social media influencer Rokia Doumbia and prominent activist Adama Ben Diarra.
