The Malian government has initiated legal proceedings against influencer Drisse Martinez Konipo, accused of making comments deemed complacent toward sexual violence during a live broadcast on May 11.
The Malian government announced the initiation of legal proceedings following comments made by a local influencer during a live broadcast on May 11, 2025.
These statements, perceived as a justification for sexual violence, triggered a strong reaction from the authorities and several human rights groups.
During his appearance on the program “Deux Paroles” on a private channel, influencer Drisse Martinez Konipo essentially claimed that the clothing style of some women partly explained cases of rape.
Excerpts from the broadcast quickly circulated on social media, prompting immediate reactions. In a statement dated May 12, the Malian Ministry for the Advancement of Women, Children, and the Family described these comments as a “clear apology for rape” and a “trivialization of violence against women and children.”
The ministry called for legal proceedings to be opened against the originator of the statements, as well as sanctions against the media outlets that broadcast the program.
This case comes at a time of heightened national sensitivity surrounding sexual violence, particularly following the recent rape and murder of a four-year-old girl in a Bamako neighbourhood.
The authorities emphasised that rape is a crime covered and punishable under the Malian Penal Code, in accordance with international instruments ratified by Mali, such as the Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
The government also announced the establishment of a support unit to support victims, and indicated that it was working on developing a strengthened national child protection plan, with specific measures for prevention, psychological support and awareness-raising.
MD/ac/Sf/fss/as/APA