Former Mali Prime Minister Moussa Mara has been sentenced to one year in prison by a Bamako court for a social media post in support of political prisoners
The court also imposed a one-year suspended sentence for “undermining the credibility of the state and opposing legitimate authority.”
Mara, who served as prime minister from 2014 to 2015, has been in detention since August 1 following his July post in which he claimed to have met with political prisoners and vowed to seek justice.
AFP reporters noted that Mara appeared calm as the National Cybercrime Centre court delivered the verdict on Monday. Prosecutors had sought a 24-month sentence.
In addition to the prison term, Mara must pay a 500,000 CFA franc ($887) fine.
“It’s not over,” Mara’s lawyer, Mountaga Tall, told AFP. “We will consult with our client and decide on the next steps.”
A close friend of Mara, speaking anonymously for security reasons, said the verdict was not unexpected. “We expected it… Tell me what his crime is?” the friend asked.
Mali has been under the rule of a military junta since back-to-back coups in 2020 and 2021. Since taking power, the junta has intensified repression against critics, including measures targeting the press and the dissolution of political parties.
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