diff --git a/.release-please-manifest.json b/.release-please-manifest.json
index 7731f20ec..34fa4a6a5 100644
--- a/.release-please-manifest.json
+++ b/.release-please-manifest.json
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 {
-  ".": "2.16.0"
+  ".": "2.16.1"
 }
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 196ccb8a3..66d745fc0 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## [2.16.1](https://github.com/descope/python-sdk/compare/descope-2.16.0...descope-2.16.1) (2026-10-22)
+
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+* **deps:** require certifi>=2026.10.19 to distrust compromised eMudhra CAs ([#1734](https://github.com/descope/python-sdk/issues/1734)) ([abcd3c9](https://github.com/descope/python-sdk/commit/abcd3c90040bb33e576471097fa807c8565377ca))
+
 ## [2.16.0](https://github.com/descope/python-sdk/compare/descope-2.15.0...descope-2.16.0) (2026-10-19)
 
 
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index a2a99923c..df1a81a22 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [project]
 name = "descope"
-version = "2.16.0"
+version = "2.16.1"
 description = "Descope Python SDK"
 authors = [{ name = "Descope", email = "info@descope.com" }]
 requires-python = ">=3.9,<4.0"
diff --git a/uv.lock b/uv.lock
index 2ab059ab2..b3873344d 100644
--- a/uv.lock
+++ b/uv.lock
@@ -627,7 +627,7 @@ wheels = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "descope"
-version = "2.16.0"
+version = "2.16.1"
 source = { editable = "." }
 default-groups = "all"
 dependencies = [