Faith Nyasuguta
Mali’s military junta arrested prominent politician Issa Kaou N’Djim on Wednesday for allegedly insulting Burkina Faso’s ruling junta, highlighting the deepening alliance among West African military regimes.
N’Djim, who once supported Mali’s military leader Col. Assimi Goita before becoming a vocal critic, is accused of violating a Malian law that criminalizes insulting foreign heads of state. His arrest followed remarks on Joliba TV News, where he questioned the legitimacy of a coup plot allegedly foiled by Burkina Faso’s junta.
The arrest was confirmed by N’Djim’s son, Ousmane N’Djim, who stated that his father was taken into custody and transferred to Bamako’s main prison. “He knows this is because of his political struggle,” Ousmane said. The director of Joliba TV News has also been summoned for questioning, signaling a broader crackdown on dissenting voices.
Mali and Burkina Faso, along with Niger, are governed by military juntas that seized power through coups between 2020 and 2022. These regimes have leveraged popular dissatisfaction with previous democratic governments over escalating security crises, notably the rise in extremist attacks.
The three countries recently formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a coalition aimed at mutual security and governance goals. Critics argue that this alliance has prioritized suppressing dissent and consolidating power over addressing the root causes of instability.
N’Djim, a former vice president of Mali’s National Transitional Council, has been a controversial figure. Initially an ally of the military regime, he later distanced himself and advocated for a return to democratic governance. In 2021, he received a six-month prison sentence for criticizing the junta on social media.
Crackdowns on Dissent
The AES regimes have faced accusations of human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings and crackdowns on opposition figures. Amnesty International has condemned N’Djim’s arrest, calling for his immediate release.
In June, Malian authorities detained 11 opposition politicians and several activists, further demonstrating the regime’s intolerance for dissent. Meanwhile, insecurity continues to worsen across the Sahel, with extremist attacks surging and civilians bearing the brunt of both insurgent violence and state-led military operations.
Observers say the arrest of N’Djim signals the junta’s intent to stifle criticism as it strengthens ties with allied regimes. As Mali persists under military rule, calls for democracy and accountability grow louder amid a deteriorating security and political landscape.
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