A court in Bamako has sentenced former Malian Prime Minister Moussa Mara to one year in prison for a social media post deemed critical of the ruling military government. The verdict, delivered on Monday, has been widely condemned as part of a growing crackdown on dissent under Colonel Assimi Goïta’s regime. Mara, who served as prime minister from 2014 to 2015 under then-President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, was found guilty of “undermining the credibility of the state and opposing legitimate authority.” In addition to his one-year prison sentence, the court imposed a one-year suspended term and a fine of 500,000 CFA francs (about $887).
The charges stemmed from a July post in which Mara expressed solidarity with political detainees, saying he had met with some of them and would continue to advocate for their release. Authorities interpreted the message as an attack on state institutions. Mara, 49, has been held in detention since August 1. His lawyer, Mountaga Tall, told AFP they would appeal the ruling, describing it as politically motivated. “This is not the end. We will pursue all legal remedies available to us,” Tall said.
The verdict has sparked criticism from civil society groups and opposition figures who view it as another example of the military junta’s tightening grip on political freedoms. Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have accused the government of silencing critics through intimidation, arrests, and censorship. Since seizing power in two successive coups in 2020 and 2021, Col. Goïta’s government has postponed elections and curtailed press and political freedoms, citing national security concerns amid the country’s ongoing fight against Islamist insurgents. Analysts say Mara’s sentencing underscores Mali’s deepening authoritarian shift, with the regime increasingly targeting politicians, journalists, and activists who question its legitimacy.
