Mali's Former Prime Minister Charged with Undermining State Credibility

Former Mali Prime Minister Moussa Mara has been charged with undermining the state following his public declarations of support for opposition figures. His remarks, made on social media, have brought scrutiny from the military-led government, which dissolved political parties earlier this year.

A former prime minister of Mali, Moussa Mara, is facing serious legal charges under the military regime that has governed the country since a series of coups in 2020 and 2021. The current government has come under fire for its tactics, particularly after dissolving all political parties in May due to increased unrest and anti-government demonstrations.

Mara's troubles began following a prison visit last July, during which he expressed solidarity with detained opposition leaders via social media platform X. He stated his commitment to ensuring that "the flame of hope never fades" among the prisoners, asserting that, "As long as the night lasts, the sun will inevitably rise! And we will fight by all means to make that happen, and as soon as possible!"

This journey into political turbulence has seen Mara detained and questioned twice by the national cybercrime unit regarding his July post. The prosecutor in this case has argued that his reference to "prisoners of conscience" and his pledge to fight on their behalf violated laws set forth by the military authorities.

On Friday, he was officially charged with undermining the credibility of the state, as well as with opposing legitimate authority and inciting public disorder. His upcoming trial is scheduled for September 29.

Meanwhile, Mali’s military leader, Gen Assimi Goïta, has been consolidating power, having been granted a renewable five-year presidential term by a transitional parliament. Initially, he promised to conduct elections a year later but has since failed to follow through on this commitment, undermining hopes for a return to multi-party governance in the nation.