The death of Malian journalist Soumaré Mohamed Cheick Tidiane in Rabat has been officially attributed to natural causes, the King’s Attorney General at the Rabat Court of Appeal has confirmed.
Allegations circulating on social media suggesting his death was suspicious or linked to his support of a football team at the Africa Cup of Nations have been dismissed as unfounded.
The Attorney General’s office stated that police were alerted on 14 January 2026 after a private medical team reported a deceased person at their home in Rabat.
A judicial investigation was immediately ordered, and officers from the judicial police, accompanied by scientific and technical specialists, attended the scene in one of the city’s districts.
Soumaré, an independent journalist who had arrived in Morocco via Mohammed V Airport on 2 January 2026, was found by paramedics in his apartment bedroom.
The Consul of Mali and a colleague, also a Malian journalist accredited for the tournament, were present.
According to reports, the colleague had received a text from Soumaré warning of his poor health and subsequently called emergency services when he could not access the apartment.
Paramedics forced entry and discovered Soumaré’s lifeless body, noting no visible signs of violence. Medications, personal effects, and documents were found nearby.
The body was subsequently taken to the morgue for an autopsy.
The results of the autopsy concluded that Soumaré died from a pulmonary embolism triggered by a sharp rise in blood pressure, confirming that his death was from natural causes.
The Attorney General emphasised that all circulating claims implying foul play or targeting related to the Africa Cup of Nations were baseless.
The investigation and forensic examination leave no indication of criminal involvement.
Soumaré Mohamed Cheick Tidiane’s passing has prompted an outpouring of condolences from colleagues and the Malian journalism community, highlighting his contributions as an independent journalist covering sports and current affairs.
