By Peter Omopo
Bamako | October 27, 2025 — A court in Bamako, Mali’s capital, on Monday sentenced former Prime Minister Moussa Mara to two years in prison, with one year suspended, after finding him guilty of undermining the credibility of the state and opposing legitimate authority through a social media post expressing solidarity with political prisoners.
Mara, who served as Mali’s prime minister between 2014 and 2015, has been detained since August 1 following his July post in which he revealed that he had met with detained political figures and pledged to seek justice for them.
During Monday’s proceedings at the National Cybercrime Centre Court in Bamako, Mara remained calm as the judge read the verdict, according to an AFP reporter present at the hearing.
In addition to his jail term, the court ordered the 49-year-old politician to pay a fine of 500,000 CFA francs (approximately $887). Prosecutors had earlier sought a full 24-month sentence.
Mara’s lawyer, Mountaga Tall, said the defence team would challenge the ruling, telling AFP:
“It’s not over. We will consult with our client and decide on the next steps.”
A close associate of Mara, who requested anonymity due to security concerns, also described the conviction as unjust, saying, “We expected it. Tell me, what is his crime?”
Mali has been under military rule since two successive coups in 2020 and 2021, which ousted civilian leaders and led to increasing restrictions on dissent. In recent years, the junta has intensified its crackdown on critics, dissolved opposition parties, and tightened control over the press.
Moussa Mara, known for his reformist stance during his brief tenure as prime minister, joins a growing list of Malian political figures and civil society leaders facing prosecution under the country’s current military-led administration.
