A court in Bamako has sentenced former Mali Prime Minister Moussa Mara to one year in prison for “undermining the credibility of the state and opposing legitimate authority,” following a social media post in which he expressed support for political prisoners.
The ruling, delivered on Monday by the National Cybercrime Centre court, also includes a one-year suspended sentence and a fine of 500,000 CFA francs (approximately $887).
Mara, who served as prime minister from 2014 to 2015, was arrested on 1 August after posting on social media that he had met with political detainees and pledged to pursue justice for them. He appeared calm as the court handed down its verdict, according to an AFP correspondent present at the hearing.
Prosecutors had sought a 24-month sentence, but the court imposed a lighter penalty.
Reacting to the decision, Mara’s lawyer, Mountaga Tall, told AFP: “It’s not over. We will consult with our client and decide on the next steps.”
A close associate of the former premier, speaking anonymously for security reasons, said the outcome was expected. “We saw it coming… Tell me, what is his crime?” he asked.
Mali, currently under military rule following coups in 2020 and 2021, has faced growing criticism for its crackdown on dissent. The junta has tightened restrictions on the media, dissolved political parties, and intensified actions against its opponents.