Mali: Political opponent imprisoned as rule of law collapses
A political opponent in Mali has been sentenced to prison in a move symbolic of the deteriorating legitimacy of the rule of law.
A member of the Alternative for Mali party, Seydina Touré was arrested for “inciting public disorder” after expressing critical views of the transitional authorities on, mainly, his Facebook account; an arrest his supporters have labelled as political.
RFI reported on March 4th that Touré was sentenced to one year in prison and ordered to pay 650,000 CFA francs after he described the military authorities as “juntas”, a term used for a military government that has taken power by force rather than democratic election.
He called for “fighting against the anarchic regime of Assimi Goïta,” interim President of Mali. These remarks led him to be convicted by the anti-cybercrime judicial unit for “undermining the credibility of the state”, “inciting public disorder,” and “insulting through an information system.”
“Seydina Touré does not deserve prison,” according to a member of his party, pointing to his lack of criminal record and the severity of the punishment for simply expressing his political view.
His lawyers have said he will challenge the verdict but the likelihood of successfully challenging an obviously non-independent judiciary seems low.
Mali has experienced nearly five years of military rule since the army seized power in a military coup in 2021, overthrowing the democratically elected President. The coup has led to the diplomatic isolation of Mali from the west and its reliance on Russian mercenary support for the new regime.
The military regime has been criticised for the extent of state violence being used. Touré’s arrest is but one of many demonstrating the Malian government’s crackdown on political dissent and opposition. Human Rights Watch has spoken out about the several political figures who are or were presumed forcibly disappeared by the Malian authorities or detained for politically motivated reasons.
Accusations against Malian forces for extrajudicial violence have also been circulating, with the Malian government launching an ostensibly superficial investigation into the deaths of 24 people after soldiers and Russian mercenaries suddenly opened fire on two cars filled with civilians.
The detention of political opponents and the cultivation of a climate of fear have highlighted the sensitivity of the Malian authorities to criticism in a country plagued by multiple security and political challenges.
RFI, Human Rights Watch, Maghrebi
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