A judicial service in Mali has confirmed the arrest of ytop Malian politician for ill-speech projected against military rulers of neighboring Burkina Faso.
The arrest of the state official, according to reports, follows an unexplained disassociation from Mali’s current military leader Col. Assimi Goita.
An employee of the court’s system in engagements with local media explained that Issa Kaou N’Djim’s arrest comes on charges of insulting a foreign head of state – an act recognized as a crime in Mali.
N’Djim had claimed on Joliba TV over the weekend that the military rulers of Burkina Faso, a close ally of Mali, made up evidence of a foiled coup in November.
The politician’s son Ousmane N’djim confirmed that his father had been arrested and attributed the arrest to his father’s ‘political struggle’. The politician is currently in the main prison in Mali’s capital Bamako.
Earlier this year, Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso (all under rule by military junta) formed a pact in September 2023, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). The alliance which was formed after the string of successful coups in all three West African countries became stronger despite threats from ECOWAS to intervene militarily and restore civilian rule. The three states are no more member states of the West African international body. In July 2024 the three leaders signed a confederation treaty that aims to strengthen the mutual defense pact and seek to work hand in hand to uphold it.
