Malian political figure Issa Kaou N’Djim was released, one year after being jailed for criticizing Burkina Faso’s military rulers. N’Djim was sentenced in December 2024 to two years in prison, with one year suspended, over comments questioning a foiled coup.
His son Ousmane Kaou N’Djim told AFP his father arrived home at 11:00 a.m. (1100 GMT) following his release. A judicial source confirmed the release, marking a rare moment of relief amid the region’s ongoing political turbulence.
N’Djim made the remarks during a Joliba TV News programme in November 2024, drawing the ire of military authorities. Previously a supporter of Malian junta leader Assimi Goita, N’Djim later distanced himself, advocating a swift return to civilian rule.
Mali and Burkina Faso, ruled by military regimes since coups in 2020 and 2022, face ongoing political and security crises. Both governments have cracked down on press freedom, suspending foreign outlets and imprisoning critics to silence dissenting voices.
N’Djim served as vice-president of Mali’s National Transitional Council, the military-led legislative body, before his dismissal for subversive remarks. He received a six-month suspended sentence in 2021 for undermining state credibility and faced repeated travel restrictions under military rule.
Mali, alongside Burkina Faso and Niger, forms the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a confederation led by military juntas in the region. His release highlights the fragile balance between repression and legal leniency in countries struggling under prolonged military governance.