Malian journalist Alfousseini Togo has been granted provisional release after spending over a month in detention for criticizing the Ministry of Justice.

Togo, who is the publishing director of The Duck of Venice newspaper, returned home Monday after paying a surety of 2 million CFA francs. He awaits trial on charges linked to a critical article that challenged government claims of public satisfaction with the judiciary.

His arrest sparked concerns over press freedom, particularly under Mali’s military-led transition.

The Union of Young Press Editors of Mali called his release a “first victory” for the country’s media community.