Famous Malian singer Rokia Traoré has been arrested at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport in connection with a conviction in Belgium stemming from a protracted child custody battle. Traoré, who was flying in for a concert, was apprehended by border police, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the airport to the AFP news agency on Sunday.
The arrest revives a legal saga that began in 2020 when Traoré was first detained in France on a Belgian arrest warrant for failing to comply with a court order to hand over her child to her Belgian father. After her initial detention, she was conditionally released but subsequently defied a travel ban by flying to Mali on a private flight, evading extradition to Belgium.
Last October, a Belgian court sentenced Traoré in absentia to two years in prison on charges of parental abduction for “failing to hand over a child to the person entitled to custody,” as reported by Belgian prosecutors. The conviction follows her non-compliance with the custody ruling that awarded the child’s father, Traoré’s former partner, custody rights. Their daughter, now nine years old, has been residing in Mali since she was four.
The child’s father has reportedly had no contact with his daughter since she moved to Mali. Traoré’s arrest in 2020 occurred while she was traveling from Mali to Brussels to appeal against the custody ruling. At the time, her legal team argued that she was intent on challenging the decision. Mali’s government expressed support for Traoré, highlighting her diplomatic passport as a defense against her arrest.
Rokia Traoré is celebrated not only for her musical talent but also for her advocacy work. She has won numerous accolades, including the BBC Award for World Music in 2004 and the 2009 World Music Album of the Year at the Victoires de la Musique, the French equivalent of the Grammys. Her influence extends beyond music, as she has been a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) since 2015, focusing on the West and Central African regions.
Traoré’s recent arrest raises questions about the future of her legal and professional life. It underscores the ongoing complexities in international child custody cases, especially those involving prominent figures. The legal proceedings in Belgium and the conditions of her arrest in Italy will likely draw significant international attention, given her status and the nature of the charges.
As the case unfolds, Traoré’s supporters and legal team will be watching closely to determine the next steps in her legal journey. Her arrest at Fiumicino Airport marks another chapter in a long-standing legal battle, with potential implications for international custody laws and the role of diplomatic protections.
For now, the world awaits further developments as one of Africa’s most renowned singers faces the dual challenge of legal battles abroad and maintaining her influential career and advocacy work.