Morocco’s public prosecutor on Tuesday denied social media claims suggesting that a Malian journalist died under suspicious circumstances at a hotel in Rabat, in Morocco to cover the Africa Cup of Nations.
In a statement, the prosecutor general at the Rabat Court of Appeal said the allegations were “baseless” and provided details of the investigation, which concluded that the death was due to natural causes.
According to the statement, police were notified on Jan. 14, 2026, by a private medical team of the death of a man in his apartment in Rabat. The public prosecutor ordered a judicial investigation, prompting officers from the criminal investigation unit, accompanied by forensic specialists, to inspect the residence.
The deceased was identified as Soumare Mohamed Cheick Tidiane, a Malian national and freelance journalist. Authorities said he entered Morocco on Jan. 2, 2026, through Mohammed V International Airport to cover the Africa Cup of Nations.
When police arrived at the apartment, they found the Malian consul and a friend of the deceased, also a Malian journalist accredited to cover the tournament. The friend told investigators he had received a text message from Soumare indicating that his health condition was critical, prompting him to rush to the apartment.
Unable to access the residence because the door was locked from the inside, he contacted emergency services. Upon arrival, paramedics forced the door open and discovered Soumare dead in his bedroom. Investigators found no signs of violence on the body. Medications, personal belongings and identification documents were also found at the scene.
The body was transferred to the morgue for an autopsy, which determined that the death was natural, caused by a pulmonary embolism linked to a severe spike in blood pressure, the prosecutor said.
The statement, dated Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2026, stressed that no evidence supports claims of foul play or any connection between the death and the Africa Cup of Nations.
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.