Initially scheduled for March 5, the deliberation of activist Mohamed Youssouf Bathily alias Ras Bath is postponed to March 11, 2024 at the Bamako Court of Appeal.
Image d’illustration / Irmeyasom via Iwaria
Behind bars, on March 13, 2023, the date on which he was prosecuted for “simulation of an offense”, after speaking out on the death of former Prime Minister Soumeylou Boubèye Maïga, the host of the show “Grands Dossiers” was acquitted by the courts on July 11 of the same year. The same day, the columnist was accused of “damaging the state’s credit”.
In January 2024, a judge ordered his release. But prosecutor Idrissa Hamidou Touré appealed, thus extending his stay in Koulikoro central prison (located several dozen kilometers from the capital.)
From IBK to Assimi
More famous under the pseudonym Ras Bath, Mohamed Youssouf Bathily is recognized as a major influencer in Mali. Indeed, Rasta had built up a large audience in the early 2010s.
A law student in Dakar, he was inspired by the Y’en a marre Movement in Senegal to bring his activism home. Controversial for some, his fed-up comments are partly dedicated to the most vulnerable sections of society (such as young people, rural people, modest city dwellers.)
His first radio broadcasts and videos, having gone around the web, reached the four corners of the country. In front of his followers, he does not miss the opportunity to denounce mismanagement in public administration.
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A few months before the 2018 presidential elections, the spokesperson for the CDR association (Collectif pour la Défense de la République) calls on voters to prevent a second victory for outgoing President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita at the polls. Despite the support of the most famous video men to the leader of the opposition (Soumaïla Cissé), IBK will be re-elected as his successor.
In 2020, Ras Bath is not participating in the protests M5-RFP. Not sharing the vision of those who wanted the president to resign, he did not hesitate to step up to denounce the August 18 coup. Opponent of the Ibrahim Boubacar Keita system, the “Guide” of the CDR will do battle with that of Colonel Assimi Goïta.
Kassim Traoré (VOA) via Wikicommons / IBK vote in Bamako on July 29,
Between radio and prison
During the late president’s judiciary, the reggae enthusiast benefited from the support of his many fans who invaded the streets during his trials. Since the advent of the transition, the activist has been in prison several times.
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Arrested in the case of “attempt to destabilize institutions”he will be released on April 19, 2021 following a court decision which put an end to the proceedings against the people cited (including former Prime Minister Boubou Cissé) in the said case.
In May of the same year, the columnist will be in jail again for “contempt of court” following a complaint from two magistrates’ unions. In question, comments made against the latter during his show. Recovering his freedom, Ras Bath had already started to dust off his “Grands dossiers” on the radio, less than a year old before the death of the former prime minister.