Moussa Mara, who served as Mali’s prime minister for a short stint in 2014-2015, is now facing charges of “undermining the credibility of the state.”
A former prime minister of Mali has been charged with “undermining state credibility” following a social media message regarding his visits to political detainees, according to sources from the prosecution.
Moussa Mara held the prime ministerial office for just eight months between 2014 and 2015. His recent summoning for questioning follows a post on X from July 4, in which he discussed visiting the prisoners and vowed to advocate for their rights.
“The sun will rise, even after the longest night!” he wrote, adding, “We will do everything possible to ensure this happens quickly!”
Mara is currently incarcerated, with his trial set for September 29. His legal team expressed strong disapproval of the proceedings in a statement released on Friday.
This arrest marks another instance of a crackdown on dissent by Mali’s military leadership, especially after the country’s first pro-democracy rally since the military takeover nearly four years ago.
According to Abdoulaye Yaro, a close ally of Mara, the former prime minister was detained following orders from a cybercrime prosecutor who was alarmed by his expressions of support for those imprisoned due to their political views.
Mara’s attorney, Mountaga Tall, stated on X that he is facing multiple charges including undermining state authority, inciting public unrest, and disseminating false information.
His legal representatives are challenging both the charges and his detention, according to Tall.
Since leading two coups in 2020 and 2021, General Assimi Goita has been at the helm of Mali. In June 2025, he extended his rule by another five years despite earlier commitments to restore civilian governance by March 2024.
This shift followed the military government’s dissolution of political parties in May.
Mali, situated in the semi-arid Sahel region of West Africa, has been engulfed in political turmoil that has affected numerous nations across West and Central Africa over the past decade.