CARE Affair #11 - Power

monitor what it does.” To ensure that
this actually happens at last, he
founded the “Collective for Defense of
the Republic” in Mali in 2012. He has
already gained thousands of supporters
in both the analog and digital
worlds, who call him Ras Bath, the
abbreviation of Rasta Bathily – the
name he used as a radio host in Mali.
As a passionate Reggae fan, Bathily
had a weekly music program and
presented very critical political
features. In August 2016, however, he
was banned from his profession due
to his political activities, and is still
not permitted to appear in radio or
on television. Since then, he became
all the more active in social networks.
Now over 40 years old, he doesn’t
look his age: he has short dreadlocks,
black-rimmed glasses and wears a
short chain around his neck. Ras Bath
decided in early 2012 that things had
to change in his home country. The
serious political crisis in Mali that still
continues today had just begun at
that time. In January 2012 the Tuareg
rebelled in the north; in March a
military putsch occurred; soon after
that, militants were advancing on the
capital. The French army intervened
at short notice and worked with
African troops to drive back the
militants. Mali now has a new government
under president Ibrahim
Boubacar Keïta and a large-scale UN
mission is trying to help stabilize the
country. Despite this, the security
situation in the north and center of
the country is worsening. Armed
groups continue to carry out attacks
on UN soldiers and the Malian army;
crime is on the rise. And president
Keïta, hailed as a beacon of hope on
his election in 2013, has mainly been
conspicuous since then for mismanagement,
corruption and nepotism.
Ras Bath sits in his small office
giving advice to citizens who seek
his help, or preparing for the public
meetings that he regularly organizes.
He uses these events to speak about
the most recent government reshuffle,
for example, or to expose the
background of each minister: who
has already attracted attention due to
corruption and in what context; who
has occupied positions that are notorious
for corruption and for how long.
Even Mali’s public authorities back
off in the face of Ras Bath’s popularity.
When he was arrested in August
2016, furious demonstrators forced
his release two days later. The authorities
accused him of hurting national
feelings and shaming the nation. Only
a year later did a court in Bamako
sentence the activist to twelve years
in jail and a fine equivalent to 150 euros.
Ras Bath happened to be touring
Europe when the sentence was handed
down; he gathered thousands of
supporters in France and Spain too,
and spread his message further: “We
ourselves are responsible for what
kind of government we have. We can
change the circumstances that make
us suffer.” On his return to Bamako,
a cheering crowd welcomed him at
the airport like a popstar. Despite the
sentence, he is currently at liberty. His
protection and the basis of his power
is his support among the population
– which would be inconceivable in
this form without the technological
developments of recent years.
The Evolution of Power
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