Former Mali Prime Minister Moussa Mara has been jailed and charged with “undermining the credibility of the state” after a social media post referencing political prisoners, a Bamako prosecutor confirmed on Friday.
Mara, who served as Mali’s prime minister for eight months between 2014 and 2015, was summoned earlier this month following a July 4 post on X (formerly Twitter), in which he mentioned visiting incarcerated political figures and pledged to advocate for their justice.
According to the prosecutor’s office, a cybercrime judge officially charged Mara on Friday with “undermining the credibility of the state and opposing legitimate authority.” The former prime minister remains in detention as he awaits trial, which has been scheduled for September 29.
His legal team denounced the charges in a statement, describing the proceedings as unjust and politically motivated. They pledged to issue a more detailed response in the coming days.
The case has sparked fresh concerns among rights groups over freedom of expression and the political climate in Mali, which has faced prolonged instability under military rule since 2020.
Written By Rodney Mbua
