Badra Aliou Dicko charged after Mali army killing claim

Badra Aliou Dicko, a prominent online supporter of Mali's military junta known as Bad the Malian, has been charged with "undermining" the state and "defamation", Mali's anti-cybercrime unit told AFP.

Dicko is due to stand trial on December 28.

The charges followed posts on Facebook and YouTube on September 15 in which Dicko accused the army and Russian paramilitaries from Africa Corps of killing at least 10 civilians arrested in the central Segou region. He wrote that dismembered bodies were apparently discovered in bags in a backwater in Ke-Macina on September 13.

Security and local sources told AFP that at least 10 civilians were killed by troops and Russian paramilitaries before being put in bags and dumped in a river.

A close associate told AFP that Dicko, fearing for his life, tried to flee Mali after making his claim and was arrested at Sikasso, near the Ivory Coast border. A source close to the case said he was detained and held for three weeks before being handed over to the prosecutor.

Mali's military authorities took power in coups in 2020 and 2021. Under junta leader General Assimi Goita, numerous critics and media figures have been jailed or forced into exile. Authorities have cited the need for patriotism while Mali battles threats from jihadists.