Professor Étienne Fakaba SISSOKO
Author, academic, activist and publisher threatened for his writing.
Étienne Fakaba Sissoko (b.1983) is a non-fiction author, academic, activist, and publisher forced into exile in September 2025, together with his family, after being targeted afresh by authorities following the annoucement of his plans to publish new books he had written in prison. He had served a one-year prison sentence in connection with a 2023 book which criticises the military government and was released in March 2025.
Prominent Malian author, academic and political activist Étienne Fakaba Sissoko fled into exile together with his family in September over safety and liberty concerns.
Arrested on 25 March 2024, Sissoko was released from prison on 27 March 2025 after serving a one-year prison sentence (with a further year suspended) at the Kéniéroba Central Prison following a conviction of fabricated charges of ‘harming the reputation of the state’, ‘defamation’ and ‘dissemination of false news disturbing the public peace. This was in connection with his 2023 book, Propagande, Agitation, Harcèlement: La communication gouvernementale pendant la transition au Mali (Propaganda, Agitation, Harassment: Government Communication During Mali's Transition), which denounces alleged propaganda in the Malian government’s public information campaign. He was also fined XOF three million (about USD5,200) for ‘damages’ to the state.
After his release, he was subjected to severe harassment. He escaped two attempted abductions and faced intimidation through surveillance by security agents, and threats delivered via anonymous phone calls, social media messages and by unidentified individuals at his home. Fearing for his safety, he and his family left the country in September.
Sissoko has been a target of judicial harassment since the 2020 military coup. In 2022, he was detained for close to six months without trial for alleged ‘subversive’ speech after he publicly criticised the government. He was also reportedly questioned about the validity of his own academic qualifications in what credible sources have told PEN International was an attempt by Malian authorities to discredit Sissoko’s academic credentials. He faced a travel ban after his release (see PEN International Case List 2025).
Étienne Fakaba Sissoko, born on 2 February 1983 has written on the economic and development crises in Mali. His persecution is a typical example of the Malian military government’s weaponisation of law and the justice system to silence the few voices still criticising the abuses and excesses of the junta.
Image Credit: Etioo