Mali journalist Abdrahamane Kéita sentenced to two years in prison

Abdrahamane Kéita, the publication director of the newspaper Le Témoin, has been sentenced to two years in prison by Mali’s national cybercrime pole. The court also ordered him to pay a fine of one million CFA francs.

The conviction stems from comments made during a television debate on Renouveau TV in June. During the program, Kéita suggested that the northern city of Kidal was being “administered” by the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM). Prosecutors charged him with spreading false or misleading information and committing a regionalist offense intended to undermine national unity and the credit of the State.

Kéita maintained his innocence during the trial, stating he was merely repeating terms used by an interviewee and had no intention of spreading misinformation. His defense team has indicated intentions to appeal the ruling. Reporters Without Borders criticized the verdict, describing it as a “concerning signal” to media professionals and an example of the criminalization of journalism through cybercrime laws.