An appeal court in Mali on Monday upheld the prison sentence imposed on former prime minister Moussa Mara, who was jailed last year after expressing support for political prisoners on social media.
Mara, who served as prime minister from 2014 to 2015, was charged in October with undermining the credibility of the state and opposing legitimate authority. The case followed a social media post in July in which he said he had met with political detainees and promised them justice.
He has been in detention since August 1. On Monday, a judge at the Bamako Court of Appeal confirmed his original sentence of two years in prison, with one year suspended, along with a fine of 500,000 CFA francs (about $908).
His lawyer, Mountaga Tall, said the legal team would not back down, adding that they plan to consult further and take the case to Mali’s Supreme Court.
Amnesty International criticised the ruling, describing the charges as politically motivated and calling for Mara’s immediate release. The rights group also urged the authorities to free others detained solely for peacefully exercising their human rights.
According to Amnesty’s regional director for west and central Africa, Marceau Sivieude, Mara’s case reflects a broader pattern of repression in Mali, including the use of the justice system to silence critics.
Mali has been under military rule since successive coups in 2020 and 2021. Since then, authorities have intensified crackdowns on dissent, targeting critics through restrictions on the media and the dissolution of political parties.
