Mali: Activist and Influencer Rokia Doumbia Receives One-Year Sentence for Criticizing Junta

The Coalition For Women In Journalism denounces her imprisonment, demands immediate acquittal 

Location: Mali, Bamako
Date: August 2, 2023

Malian officials handed down a one-year prison sentence to Rokia Doumbia, an activist and social media influencer, for criticizing the government on social media. This verdict is another example of the ongoing suppression of dissenting opinions in Mali. The Coalition For Women In Journalism expresses its support for Rokia Doumbia and strongly condemns the unjust imprisonment ruling. We call upon the court to reconsider its decision and clear Doumbia of all charges.

Malian authorities have taken a tough stance against dissent by sentencing activist and influencer Rokia Doumbia, popularly known as #Madame vie chère. The ruling junta targeted her for criticizing its governance and speaking out about the high costs of living on social media. 

In a TikTok live stream, Doumbia lambasted the junta who took over after ousting the President and Prime Minister in a coup-d'etat in 2021.

“Under your governance, things are not going well. This transition is a failure,” she exclaimed. “That’s not why you staged a coup d’état. When you stage a coup because your predecessor failed, the aim is to do better in order to surpass him.” 

The Court of Commune IV in Bamako, Mali's capital, issued the ruling on August 2, 2023. Doumbia was sentenced to one year in prison and ordered to pay a fine of one million CFA francs (around USD 1,600), a substantial sum given the country's low average monthly income. 

Following her arrest on March 13, 2023, the blogger was detained. Just two days later, on March 15, she was officially charged with multiple offenses, including "inciting revolt," "disturbing public order through the use of information and communication technologies," and "insulting and abusing the Head of State." These charges were brought against her during the court arraignment.

Doumbia's legal team has submitted an appeal, asserting that the charges brought against their client do not fall within the scope of the cybercrime legislation.

The press law currently governs the activities of the media, setting the guidelines for their operations. However, this law lacks clarity as it fails to define media offenses and does not address online media. Recognizing the need for change, efforts have been made to revise this outdated legal framework for several years now.

This case is another example of the increasing persecution faced by individuals in Mali's shrinking civic space and has sparked concerns about the state of freedom of expression in the country.

The media landscape was once characterized by diverse news coverage and programming, but this changed with the permanent suspension of international media outlets RFI and France 24 in April 2022. Similarly, in October 2022, a Malian TV channel faced suspension after openly criticizing the ruling junta. These events have significantly impacted the diversity and freedom of the media industry.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism expresses its full support for Rokia Doumbia. We condemn and are alarmed by the severity of Doumbia's punishment which not only suppresses freedom of expression but also acts as a deterrent for others who may wish to speak out against injustices or criticize the government.

We urge the Malian authorities to respect and protect the rights of individuals to express their opinions, even if they are critical of the government. Dialogue, open discussions, and the ability to raise concerns are essential for a healthy and inclusive society.

We demand that Rokia Doumbia be immediately acquitted of all charges against her. 

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

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