Rome, Italy – Award-winning Malian singer Rokia Traoré was scheduled to perform at the Rome Colosseum on Sunday, June 23. However, she was arrested before the event, leading to its cancellation.

Traoré has been embroiled in a protracted legal battle with Belgian playwright Jan Goosens over the custody of their daughter. The case has seen verdicts from courts in France, Mali, and Belgium, each granting custody to one of the parents at different times.

In 2020, Traoré was arrested in Paris on a European arrest warrant for failing to comply with a Belgian court ruling that required her to hand over her daughter to Goosens, who was entitled to custody. Defying a ban on leaving France, she returned to Mali with her daughter.

Due to her legal issues, Traoré, who resides in Mali with her child, has been performing less frequently in Europe. The latest arrest in Rome is a significant development in the ongoing custody dispute.

Details to follow as the story develops.