Prominent Malian professor jailed for criticizing military authorities

A prominent Malian economist and professor Étienne Fakaba Sissoko has been sentenced to two years in jail, one of which was suspended, for criticizing the military authorities.

He was also ordered to pay a fine of 3m CFA francs ($4,900).

The 41-year-old academic, who has been in custody since March, was charged with defamation and damaging the state’s reputation by distributing fake news, local media reported.

The charges relate to a book he published last year, which he defended in court, saying the work was based on fact, the reports said.