Mali’s Former PM Faces Jail Time for ‘Undermining the State’

Former Mali Prime Minister Moussa Mara has been sentenced to one year in prison for a social media post supporting political prisoners, a ruling seen as part of the junta’s crackdown on dissent.

A court in Bamako has sentenced former Mali Prime Minister Moussa Mara to one year in prison for a social media post expressing support for political prisoners — a decision that critics say underscores the growing intolerance for dissent under the military government.

Mara, who served as prime minister from 2014 to 2015, was found guilty of “undermining the credibility of the state” following a brief trial that drew wide attention from civil rights groups and international observers. The court also imposed a suspended one-year sentence and a fine of 500,000 CFA francs (approximately £660).

His lawyers have confirmed plans to appeal, arguing that the conviction violates his constitutional right to free expression. “This is not justice; it is intimidation,” said one member of Mara’s legal team, describing the ruling as politically motivated.

Colonel Assimi Goïta’s junta, which seized power in a 2021 coup, has increasingly been accused of silencing critics through arrests, media restrictions, and threats against opposition figures. Human rights organisations, including Amnesty International, have repeatedly warned of a shrinking civic space in Mali.

The ruling has sparked outrage among opposition leaders and activists, who see it as part of a broader campaign to stifle debate ahead of the delayed transition to civilian rule.

Government officials have not commented publicly on the verdict, but state media defended the judgment as necessary to “protect national cohesion.”

For many Malians, the case reflects a deeper anxiety about the country’s political direction — one where loyalty is rewarded, dissent is punished, and even words of solidarity can be seen as acts of rebellion.

In Mali today, a post of support can carry the weight of a prison sentence — and the price of speaking out has never been higher.