Malian journalist given 2-year prison sentence for insulting Niger’s president

Malian journalist given 2-year prison sentence for insulting Niger’s president

Dakar, March 24, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Malian authorities to release journalist Youssouf Sissoko, who was sentenced on Monday to two years in prison and a fine of 1 million West African francs (US$1,759) for offending a foreign head of state by publishing a commentary piece that criticized Niger’s president. “The severity of the sentence meted out to journalist Youssouf Sissoko marks an escalation in the Malian gover…