Morocco’s Public Prosecutor has rejected online claims linking the death of Malian sports journalist Mohamed Soumaré to foul play.

Soumaré, who was found dead in his hotel room in Rabat on January 14, 2026, was in Morocco covering the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

In an official statement seen by Hespress, the Prosecutor General at the Rabat Court of Appeal described circulating allegations as “baseless.”

Authorities said Soumaré’s body underwent an autopsy, which concluded he died of natural causes: a pulmonary embolism related to a severe spike in blood pressure.

Soumaré’s death came days after he publicly criticised refereeing decisions during the tournament, fuelling widespread speculation on social media.

He was staying in Rabat to cover the semi-final and final matches of AFCON.

At the same time, Cameroonian MTN employee and football fan Audry Ibohn Njoh also died in Morocco.

Authorities clarified that Njoh was not a journalist and there is no confirmed connection between the two deaths.

Soumaré was one of Mali’s most respected sports journalists, known for covering major international competitions and mentoring young journalists across Africa.

Colleagues remembered him as “generous with his time, deeply knowledgeable, and fiercely committed to journalistic ethics.”

The journalist’s passing occurred shortly after Mali was eliminated by Senegal in the quarter-finals, losing 1–0 to a first-half goal from Iliman Ndiaye.

Online reactions have been mixed. Some users criticised Morocco as a host nation, while others expressed condolences but raised concerns about journalists’ safety and online abuse directed at Moroccan players.

Moroccan authorities and AFCON organisers have confirmed that all procedures are being followed in response to the deaths.