Mali – A court in the Malian capital, Bamako, sentenced former Malian Prime Minister Moussa Mara to two years in prison on Monday, October 27, including one year suspended, for a tweet he posted on X (formerly Twitter). Authorities deemed it “harmful to the reputation and credibility of the state.”
harming the reputation of the state
According to local media reports, the court convicted Mara of “harming the reputation of the Malian state.” This is legally defined as “attacking the public credit of the state,” a charge punishable under Malian law by imprisonment and a fine. The ruling also ordered him to pay a fine of 500,000 CFA francs (approximately $800).
Reports indicated that the case stems from a tweet posted by Moussa Mara weeks ago, in which he sharply criticized the current government’s handling of public affairs. He also warned of what he described as “the erosion of citizens’ confidence in state institutions.” Authorities deemed the tweet “a deliberate insult and a call into question the state’s financial stability.”
Moussa Mara, who served as prime minister from 2014 to 2015, is currently one of the most prominent opposition politicians. He recently called for a return to constitutional order and for free elections following a series of coups that have plagued the country since 2020.
restrictions on freedoms
Observers believe the ruling comes amid escalating restrictions on freedom of expression in Mali, particularly as the military authorities tighten control over the media and social media platforms.
The case sparked widespread controversy online. Activists considered it a “political targeting” of regime opponents. Government supporters, meanwhile, defended the ruling as an “application of the law and protection of the state’s prestige.”
