In Mali, he was known as the “Cotton King.” After being acquitted in November 2021 in a case involving the misappropriation of public funds amounting to approximately 10 billion CFA francs, Bakary Togola, the former president of the Permanent Assembly of Chambers of Agriculture of Mali (APCAM) and former leader of cotton farmer cooperatives, was arrested earlier this week in Bamako by the National Economic and Financial Division before being charged and remanded into custody 48 hours later in the same case.
Bakary Togola’s acquittal in November 2021 sparked widespread commentary, as recalled by our regional correspondent, Serge Daniel. The Malian Ministry of Justice, in a statement, had barely concealed its surprise at the verdict. A prosecutor then filed an appeal, and the case was revisited. Bakary Togola, accused again of “fraudulent use of documents and misappropriation of public funds,” will be tried for the same case a second time by a court of assizes.
Cotton King is accused in the case known as the “rebates of the Confederation of Cotton Producer Cooperatives of Mali,” of which he was the president. He faces allegations of embezzling approximately 10 billion CFA francs, equivalent to 15 million euros, between 2013 and 2019.
Hailing from the Sikasso region in the south of the country, Bakary Togola had close ties to political circles, particularly former President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing. Today, one of his lawyers claims that his client will make explosive revelations.