TODAY, my pen hesitates. Not from weakness, but in the face of the inconceivable: the eternal journey of my brother and friend. He, the unshakeable pillar of the Malian press, the companion of so many struggles, the man whose character could disarm resentment with a smile. He was not merely a respected colleague. He was living proof that friendship is not an empty word, but attentive listening without hidden motives, an outstretched hand, a door always open.
MHC, AN EMINENT PROFESSIONAL
Of him, one can truly say that certain lives become inseparable from the struggles of their time. Yes, the life of Mahamane Hamèye Cissé was of that kind. An eminent journalist, a pillar of the Malian press, he leaves behind the indelible mark of a man who devoted his existence to press freedom and the dignity of his craft.
From the National Conference of 1991, where he distinguished himself as one of its spokespersons, his voice asserted itself: strong, clear-sighted, courageous. At a turning point in Mali’s history, he was able to carry the aspirations of a profession searching for its bearings within a nascent democracy. And that commitment he never betrayed. His entire life, he remained on the front line, never retreating from any battle fought for the press. His editorial positions never wavered. For that, some feared you – but far more admired you.
Appointed to the Superior Council of Communication in 1994, he resigned almost immediately. Some were surprised. Not I. I already knew him: he could not remain where ideals were betrayed, refusing any compromise. This was not a renunciation, but the act of a man for whom convictions are not negotiable. He always preferred coherence to comfort.
SATIRE AND CIVIC SPACE
In founding the newspaper Le Scorpion in May 1991, he created far more than a satirical journal: a civic space, a place for free, critical, and audacious expression. This publication, one of the oldest in the country, remains to this day the symbol of a journalistic niche where talent reigns supreme. Through his editorials, Cissé always refused complacency, guided by a single compass: truth, delivered with responsibility. Thirty-five years on, Le Satirique still publishes as the first vice-dean of Mali’s private press. It has withstood time, regimes, and pressure – thanks to the leadership of its founder.
THE CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONAL
A living memory of more than thirty years of free Malian press, he was also an architect of the first National Information Days, as well as the second and third editions, which helped shape the national media architecture. His involvement and his sense of duty thus helped to structure an entire sector. He was present at every important occasion. No struggle for the free press, no battle for press freedom ever found him standing back. He was always there – upright, unshakeable.
Even during the recent review of media legislation, he gave without holding back. Cissé’s voice carried – clear and firm, always in the service of the public interest.
Within the High Authority for Communication, where he served for six years as the unanimous choice of the profession, he established himself as a fair regulator, committed to preserving the foundations of a free press.
But beyond the professional, there was the man. Of a rare kindness – accessible, warm. He knew how to listen, how to build bonds, with a humility that commanded respect.
MHC, THE UNFORGETTABLE PAN-AFRICANIST
Across so many African capitals, his name alone was a password. A true passport. Because he had built a reputation for unimpeachable integrity. From Bamako to Dakar, from Ouagadougou to Abidjan, to Addis Ababa, to Johannesburg – colleagues bowed their heads in recognition. Cissé was admired, respected, and loved. In country after country across Africa, he was recognised and revered. He embodied a certain idea of the African journalist: free, committed, principled, faithful to democracy.
Today, his passing strikes this entire world, far beyond Mali. The man is gone, but his struggle endures. His legacy will continue to inspire those who, tomorrow, will take up the torch of truth.
Your departure, dear brother and friend Cissé, resonates everywhere as a tragedy. And I, your old friend, feel orphaned – as do so many others who knew you. I want to keep alive the image of the man who stood tall, dignified, faithful to himself until his last breath, who fell with his weapons in hand – for I see you still: active, available, body and soul committed to the organisation of the 2026 Pan-African Media Forum. That availability was your signature.
A PERFECT BOND
My dear Mahamane Hamèye Cissé, our friendship, as you well know, was never confined to newsrooms. It took root everywhere: our children learned to walk together, shared the same school benches, our wives became close companions, our homes stood side by side, and our sorrows as well as our joys always passed through the walls that separated us.
Mahamane Hamèye Cissé is no more since this Thursday, 9 April 2026. But his memory will remain planted within us; his name will remain engraved in the history of our press.
Rest in peace, my friend.
Your faithful, El Hadj Sadou Abdoulaye YATTARA Commander of the National Order of Mali
