The stern hand of military justice has once again made its presence felt. Mohamed Youssouf Bathily, widely recognized as Ras Bath, and the influential personality Rokia Doumbia, known to many as Rose « la vie chère », have received a verdict from a Bamako court: a ten-year prison sentence, with three years suspended, resulting in seven years of firm incarceration.
Charged with « association de malfaiteurs » (criminal conspiracy) and « atteinte au crédit de l’État » (undermining state credit), the popular radio commentator and the activist campaigning against the high cost of living are paying a significant price for their consistent criticisms directed at Mali’s transitional authorities, currently led by General Assimi Goïta.
A growing list of public and political figures in Mali
Far from being an isolated incident, this dual conviction is part of a broader pattern of systematic suppression in Mali, where any dissenting voice inevitably finds itself silenced or imprisoned:
- Intimidation tactics against political figures: Étienne Fakaba Sissoko, a respected economist and former presidential advisor, is also serving a prison sentence for authoring a critical analysis of the transitional government’s management in Mali. Prior to his case, Malick Coulibaly, a former Minister of Justice, along with several leaders of opposition parties, faced legal actions or arbitrary detentions.
- Suppression of civil society actors and activists: Clément Dembélé, a prominent figure in the fight against corruption in Mali, experienced detention after challenging the strategic decisions made by those in power. Numerous other social media activists have seen their accounts terminated or their freedoms curtailed for simply publishing content related to Mali’s security or economic situation.
- A heavy hand on the press and media: Local journalists operating within Mali are under constant threat of arrest or suspension from broadcasting, while several major international media outlets remain banned from 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 undeniably confirms the instrumentalization of Mali’s judicial system to quash any form of public debate. While the defense has promptly announced its intention to appeal to the Supreme Court, the situation remains deeply concerning: in Mali, questioning the cost of living or the military’s governance is now effectively treated as a state crime.
