BAMAKO, Mali — On Wednesday, one of Mali’s prominent political figures was taken into custody for his comments regarding the military government of neighboring Burkina Faso. This information was confirmed by both his son and a source within the judiciary.

Issa Kaou N’Djim, who once backed Mali’s military leader Colonel Assimi Goita but later distanced himself from the regime, was arrested on the grounds of insulting a foreign head of state. This offense is considered a crime in Mali, according to a court employee who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to restrictions on information sharing with the media.

N’Djim made a bold statement during an interview with Joliba TV News over the weekend, alleging that the military administration in Burkina Faso fabricated claims surrounding a thwarted coup that supposedly took place in September. His detention was confirmed by his son, Ousmane N’djim, who claimed, “He knows he is being arrested because of his political struggle.”

In addition to N’Djim’s arrest, the head of Joliba TV News has also been summoned for questioning by authorities.

Both Mali and Burkina Faso have been governed by military regimes since coups occurred in 2020 and 2022, taking advantage of public discontent with former democratically elected administrations, particularly concerning security challenges. These two countries, along with Niger, which is also under military rule, are part of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

N’Djim served as one of the vice presidents within Mali’s legislative body, the National Transitional Council (CNT), while it was under junta control. However, he later distanced himself from the ruling military regime, advocating for a return to a democratic electoral process. Previously, in 2021, he received a six-month prison sentence after expressing his criticisms of the junta on social media.

Analysts have observed a deterioration in security within the AES countries in recent years, marked by an unprecedented surge in attacks attributed to Islamic extremists. Furthermore, government forces have been accused of perpetrating violence against civilians suspected of aiding militants, while simultaneously targeting political dissent and suppressing journalistic freedoms.

In June, Mali’s authorities detained a significant number of opposition politicians and activists, reflecting a growing crackdown on dissent. In response to the recent arrest of N’Djim, Amnesty International has called for his immediate release through a post on the social media platform X.