A self-proclaimed marabout, or traditional healer, has been arrested in Bamako, Mali, after allegedly defrauding supporters who believed he could secure victory for the national team at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The man, identified only as Mr. Sinayogo, collected more than 33,500 euros (over 22 million CFA francs) from donations, promising that Mali would win the tournament. His claims drew widespread attention, but Mali was eliminated in the quarter-finals on Friday, losing 1-0 to Senegal.
Following the defeat, an angry crowd reportedly gathered outside Sinayogo’s home, prompting police intervention to prevent unrest. He was subsequently arrested on Saturday and is being held by the cybercrime division in Bamako. A division official told AFP that “charlatanism is punishable by law in Mali,” adding that arresting him while the national team was still competing would have been difficult “in the heat of the Africa Cup of Nations.”
According to sources close to Sinayogo, he was formerly a political activist who “proclaimed himself a marabout overnight and made a fortune” from followers who believed in his purported powers.
Authorities are investigating the matter as fraud, and the case has sparked debate across social media about the growing influence of self-styled traditional healers in Mali. The arrest serves as a warning that exploiting superstition for personal gain carries legal consequences, even amid the excitement of major sporting events.
