A court in Mali has sentenced former Prime Minister Moussa Mara to two years in prison for a social media post that criticised the country’s military rulers over their restriction of democratic freedoms, his lawyer confirmed on Monday.
Mara, one of the few public figures to openly challenge the leadership of Colonel Assimi Goïta, was also fined 500,000 CFA francs (about $887), according to his lawyer, Mountaga Tall, who shared the news on X (formerly Twitter).
The military government, which dissolved political parties earlier this year and extended its rule by another five years without elections, has faced mounting criticism for stifling dissent.
Amnesty International condemned Mara’s sentencing, describing it as part of a broader crackdown on free expression. “Instead of silencing critics, the authorities must end their growing repression of peaceful dissent and authoritarian practices,” the human rights group said in a statement.
Mali’s government has not commented on the ruling, and prosecutors were unavailable for comment.
Meanwhile, the junta continues to struggle with worsening security conditions. Al Qaeda-linked militants have recently disrupted fuel supplies to the landlocked country, forcing schools to suspend classes until mid-November.
