Mali journalist detained over article criticising Niger junta chief

BAMAKO - A well-known Mali journalist critical of the region's military rulers was arrested Thursday following the publication of an article criticising Niger's junta chief, an industry association said.

Youssouf Sissoko, publication manager at the Malian newspaper L'Alternance, printed an article accusing the head of Niger's junta of having acted "in the heat of the moment" last week when he blamed an airport attack on France, Ivory Coast and Benin.

The Thursday assault at the main airport in Niamey was claimed by the Islamic State group, but Abdourahamane Tiani said the presidents of France, Benin and Ivory Coast sponsored the assailants.

Niger's military junta, which took power in a coup in July 2023, has frosty relations with France and Benin and has moved closer to Russia.

The article was highly critical of Tiani, accusing him of lying and turning Niger into "a laboratory for a toxic political experiment".

In a statement, the Association of Private Press Publishers said the charges against Sissoko include dissemination of false information, damage to the reputation of the state and insulting a foreign head of state.

Sissoko was detained following his appearance before the prosecutor at the country's National Cybercrime Unit, with a trial scheduled for March 9, it added.

The Malian Association of Print Media Publishers expressed its "deep concern" and called for Sissoko's release pending trial.

A new opposition movement, the Coalition of Forces for the Republic, also condemned the arrest and said Sissoko was being "prosecuted for informing, analysing, and criticising".

Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, which are all led by juntas, have teamed up to create the Alliance of Sahel States and have announced a 5,000-strong force for joint military operations.

The airport in Niamey is a strategic site, hosting the headquarters of the joint force.

Niger's authorities have been fighting the Al-Qaeda-linked Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) and the Islamic State in the Sahel (EIS) in the west and southeast of the country for a decade.

It is unusual for attacks to occur in the capital.