A Malian opposition figure was released on Thursday after serving a one-year prison sentence in Mali for criticizing the military in power in neighboring Burkina Faso, AFP learned from judicial and family sources.

Issa Kaou N'Djim, a Malian political figure, had questioned, during a broadcast on the local television station Joliba TV News, the credibility of an alleged coup d'état foiled in Burkina Faso.

Last December, Mr. N'Djim was sentenced to two years in prison, one of which was suspended, and ordered to pay a fine of one million CFA francs (more than 1,538 euros) by the National Cybercrime Unit, "for publicly offending a foreign head of state and insults committed through an information system".

Mali and Burkina Faso, both ruled by military regimes following coups between 2020 and 2022, have taken repressive measures against the press, suspended access to or broadcasting of several media outlets - including foreign ones - and silenced or imprisoned journalists and other critical voices.

They founded a confederation with Niger, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

"Dad was released today, he arrived home," his son, Ousmane Kaou N'Djim, confirmed to AFP.

A judicial source also confirmed his release to AFP on Thursday.

Issa Kaou N'Djim was one of the vice-presidents of the National Transitional Council (CNT), the legislative body of the military in power in Mali, before speaking out in favor of a quick end to the so-called transition period intended to restore a regime led by civilians.

AFP