Mali Court Affirms Prison Term for Former Prime Minister
Last update: February 9, 2026
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Court rejects challenge to conviction over social media posts backing political prisoners as lawyer vows further appeal.
An appeal court in Mali on Monday upheld a prison sentence imposed on former prime minister Moussa Mara last year after he publicly expressed support for political prisoners online.
Mara, who served as prime minister of the West African country from 2014 to 2015, was charged in October with undermining the credibility of the state and opposing legitimate authority.
CBI News reports that the case stems from a social media post in July in which Mara said he had met political prisoners and promised them justice. He has been detained since August 1, 2025.
A judge at the Bamako Court of Appeal confirmed the original sentence of two years in prison, including one year suspended, along with a fine of 500,000 CFA francs, about $908.
Mali has been ruled by a military junta since the coups of 2020 and 2021. Since taking power, the authorities have intensified pressure on critics, including restrictions on the media and the dissolution of political parties.
