Malian Music Icon Rokia Traoré Faces Legal Turmoil in Belgium Over Child Custody

The case surrounding Rokia Traoré, one of Africa's most celebrated artists, highlights ongoing legal battles that have now led to her detention in Belgium after a court ruling concerning her daughter’s custody.

Malian singer Rokia Traoré, a celebrated figure in African music, has found herself embroiled in a child custody dispute that has escalated to her arrest and imprisonment in Belgium. The 50-year-old artist was reportedly extradited from Italy, where she had been detained following an outstanding two-year prison sentence for parental abduction stemming from a court order issued in 2020.

The controversy began when Traoré was initially apprehended in France for failing to comply with a court ruling that mandated the return of her daughter to her Belgian father, Jan Goossens. Despite being conditionally released, Traoré traveled to Mali on a private flight, defying a ban on her departure from France ahead of her extradition.

In October of last year, she was sentenced in absentia by a Belgian court on charges of parental abduction. Her legal troubles worsened when she was detained at Rome's Fiumicino airport in June during a stopover for a concert, where a European arrest warrant was executed against her regarding the outstanding conviction. Following her arrest, an Italian court authorized her extradition, which took effect after an appeal was dismissed.

Traoré has remained in detention since her return to Belgium, with her nine-year-old daughter having resided in Mali since the age of four. Reports indicate that Goossens has not had contact with his child during this time. Traoré’s attorney has stated the singer intends to appeal the sentence, which would result in a new trial. Both Traoré and Goossens reportedly wish to reach an agreement in the interest of the child to prevent additional legal penalties.

Not just a musical talent, Traoré is recognized for her humanitarian efforts, previously winning prestigious awards, including the BBC Award for World Music and serving as a goodwill ambassador for the UN Refugee Agency. The government of Mali has publicly supported her throughout the ordeal, citing her status as a diplomatic passport holder. The implications of this case continue to unfold as Traoré navigates her legal challenges.