Mali’s former Prime Minister Moussa Mara was charged Friday with “undermining the credibility of the state,” according to a Bamako prosecutor.
The charge stems from a July 4 post on the social media platform X, where Mara detailed his visits to political prisoners and vowed to secure justice for them.
Mara, who served as prime minister for eight months between 2014 and 2015, was previously summoned for questioning regarding the post. A cybercrime judge formally indicted him with “undermining the credibility of the state and opposing legitimate authority,” the prosecutor’s office told AFP.
He has been placed in custody, with his trial scheduled to begin on September 29. Mara’s legal team denounced the charges in a statement, calling the proceedings unjust and politically motivated.
They pledged to respond in full at a later time, hinting at a broader legal and public defence. The case has stirred concern among observers who view it as part of a wider crackdown on dissent in Mali.
Authorities have yet to comment further on the legal basis for the charge or the evidence presented. The arrest marks a deepening confrontation between political voices and a government increasingly intolerant of criticism.
