YOU will not read this letter as you are no longer on this earth but I write it as my last communication to you as this Friday, April 10th, 2026, we did not exchange our usual Friday greetings. Your unexpected demise on Thursday, April 9th, 2026, permanently cut off all communications and ended a beautiful relationship that spanned seventeen years.
Our paths met when my daughter Ndey Tapha Sosseh came to Mali on self imposed exile and to work for the West African Journalists Association (WAJA) in 2009. You took her under your wing and made her transition into her position and Mali relatively easy inspite of many challenges. You were fiercely protective of her and showed her the ropes and how to navigate her way in the Malian media under strict professionalism.
You extended this care and love to me and called me your sister. You communicated with me daily and was always there in times of joy, sorrow and normal times. Franglais was our language of communication for you were not fluent in English neither was I fluent in French but we understood each other. Sometimes you wrote to me in French and I responded in English and verse vice. One of your messages when I was faced with a challenging situation : « Courage, ma grande ! Dieu vous assiste, veille sur vous et vous protège. Toute ma solidarité » sent to me on the 23rd December demonstrates how empathetic you were towards me.
Our interactions were not only digital but we also participated in some joint advocacy and campaign activities. One such unforgettable event was when we participated in a protest march in Bamako organised by Maison de la Presse on the 5th November, 2013 against the kidnapping and killing of the two RfI journalists Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verion. You were worried that the walk was too long for me and the crowd too large and you wanted me to opt out. I told you this march was nothing compared to the free Nelson Mandela protest marches I participated in the UK in the 1980’s. The distances were longer, the crowds much larger and the noise more intense. I would take Ndey-Tapha with me and when she was tired I would carry her on my back. This narrative under pinned your description of Ndey-Tapha’s indomitable stance against all forms of injustice as you would tell people that she was inducted early into human rights advocacy.
Haméye you were special in so many ways. You were truly inspirational. You had unique inter-personal skills which inspired trust and confidence. You were authentic, emotionally intelligent but humble, generous and humourous, an excellent communicator who was not afraid to speak the truth to power, to your friends, persons you worked with and in the community but you were always respectful. You were energetic, enthusiastic and passionate about your work and your relationships.
We will miss you dearly my brother and friend. We came from different countries but you never made me or my daughter feel different. You have left a void in our lives that will not easily be filled. We pray that you are in a better and happier place than the one you left so abruptly. Till we meet again Mahamane Haméye Cisse.
*Cisse, the legendary Editor of Le Scorpion in Bamako, Mali and founding member of The African Editors Forum (TAEF) was buried in Bamako on Friday. TAEF has paid a glowing tribute to Cisse describing him as a warm, generous and grounded rock of African media.
