In Mali, Issa Kaou N’Djim was placed under arrest warrant on Wednesday November 13. Arrested in the morning at his home, he is being prosecuted for “publicly committing an offense against a foreign head of state and insults via information systems” and will be judged on February 12, according to information confirmed to RFI by a source. Malian judicial system and by the entourage of Issa Kaou N’Djim. The arrest of this political, religious and media personality well known to Malians follows a letter of complaint sent Tuesday, November 12 by the Superior Council of Communication (CSC) of Burkina to the High Authority of Communication (HAC) of Mali . The Burkinabè body denounces the comments made on Sunday, during a debate, on the private Malian channel Joliba TV News. Issa Kaou N’Djim had mocked the latest affair of a foiled coup d’état in Burkina Faso, orchestrated according to him by the authorities.
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The Burkinabè Communication Council denounces comments “ extremely serious “, ” derogatory and borderline insulting to the Burkinabe people. »
On the set of Joliba TV, however, it was not the population, but the Burkinabe military regime that Issa Kaou N’Djim attacked, believing that the new affair of a foiled coup d’état was not credible. The images of what RTB, Burkina Faso state television, presented on Saturday as flagrante delicto are described by Issa Kaou N’Djim as ” assembly » – in the sense of “staged” – “ not even professional ”, aiming to “ distract public opinion from the real issues. »
Former support
Accustomed to sets and thunderous declarations, Issa Kaou N’jim is not a simple TV columnist.
Former staunch supporter ofAssimi Goïtaone time vice-president of the National Transitional Council, he then broke with the current regime and was even imprisoned and sentenced three years ago – a suspended sentence – for “undermining the credit of the State and committing insults via social networks”, after criticism against transitional Prime Minister Choguel Maïga.
Issa Kaou N’Djim is also the son-in-law and former spokesperson of Imam Mahmoud Dicko, former president of the High Islamic Council of Mali became a fierce opponent of the military in power, today in exile in Algeria.
A pedigree which, at least as much as his comments on the Burkinabè regime, Bamako’s ally within the AES, could not work in his favor.
Also readMali: the National Transitional Council looks into the Issa Kaou N’Djim case
Joliba TV summoned by the HAC
As for Joliba TV, its director and its information director, Mohamed Attaher Halidou, who hosted the program in question, were summoned this Thursday, November 14 by the HAC, the Malian regulatory body, for a “ listening session. » Should the editorial staff fear suspension, closure, or even legal action? An executive from the channel bitterly confides his pessimism.
Two years ago, Joliba TV was suspended for two months after an editorial devoted, precisely, to the restriction of freedom of expression in Mali.
This editorial, if it were to be rewritten today, would undoubtedly no longer focus only on Mali, but on the three countries of the Alliance of Sahel States (Mali-Burkina-Niger).
In its letter of complaint, the Burkinabè Higher Council of Communication also invokes the “ AES fraternal relations » to ask the Malian authorities to react. Which they did without delay and without skimping. “ Dictators are determined to stick together » comments an informed observer, summarizing on condition of anonymity the thoughts of many others.
Also readMali: the Joliba TV channel cut for two months by the authorities