Former Malian Prime Minister Moussa Mara has been sentenced to one year in prison by a court in Bamako for a social media post supporting political prisoners. He received an additional 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, was arrested on August 1 after posting in July about meeting political prisoners and pledging justice for them. The National Cybercrime Centre court delivered its verdict on Monday, ordering him to also pay a 500,000 CFA franc ($887) fine.
Prosecutors had sought a two-year sentence. Mara reportedly remained calm as the judgment was read. His lawyer, Mountaga Tall, told AFP they would consider an appeal.
A friend of Mara said the outcome was expected, questioning the charges against him.
Mali’s ruling military junta, which seized power in coups in 2020 and 2021, has banned political parties and jailed dissenters. The country remains suspended from the African Union following the 2021 coup.
