Military junta charges Moussa Mara with undermining state credibility and inciting disorder
Mali’s former prime minister, Moussa Mara, has been charged with undermining the credibility of the state, opposing legitimate authority, and inciting public disorder over a social media post expressing solidarity with detained opposition figures.
The charges stem from a 4 July post on X in which Mara, who served as prime minister for nine months in 2014, vowed his “unwavering solidarity with prisoners of conscience” after visiting political detainees. He wrote that his visits were to ensure “the flame of hope never fades” and pledged to “fight by all means” for their release.
Malian prosecutors say such language constitutes a criminal offence under the junta’s cybercrime laws. Mara, a vocal critic of the military government, was detained twice this week for questioning and is scheduled to stand trial on 29 September.
The case highlights escalating repression under Gen Assimi Goïta, who was granted a renewable five-year presidential term in June by the transitional parliament, despite previously promising elections in 2022. In May, the junta dissolved all political parties following rare anti-government protests.
Mali, under military rule since coups in 2020 and 2021, has faced mounting criticism from rights groups and opposition figures over the shrinking space for political dissent.
