Rokiatou Doumbia is a business owner, activist and social media influencer known for her courage and outspoken personality. Through TikTok, she created a space where her 175,000 followers could speak openly about daily hardships and rising food prices, earning her the nickname “Rose Poivron” (“Bell Pepper Rose”).
Rokiatou has long supported women and families in her community, creating an association to help women start small businesses and organizing food distributions for people in need. Friends and supporters describe her as caring, generous and community-focused.
But in March 2023, after criticizing rising living costs and Mali’s military authorities during a TikTok livestream, she was arrested and charged with “incitement to revolt”, “disturbing public order”, “discrediting the state” and “criminal conspiracy”. Although two of the charges were later quashed, in August 2026 Rokiatou was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment, including seven years to be served in prison and three years suspended, for “discrediting the state” and “criminal conspiracy”.
Rokiatou’s detention reflects a wider crackdown in Mali, where authorities increasingly use arrests and criminal charges to silence critics. Her situation shows how women who speak publicly can face repression, online harassment, discrimination and social stigma aimed at pushing them out of public debate. It also highlights how digital spaces in Mali are increasingly becoming places of surveillance and control.
Call on the Malian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Rokiatou Doumbia