- Faces Charges for Social Media Comments
- Authorities Says he Undermines State’s Credibility
- To Appear in Court on September 29
A former Prime Minister of Mali, Moussa Mara, has been formally charged by the country’s military authorities over a social media post deemed critical of the state and its leadership.
According to reports retrieved by Eko Hot Blog, Mara, who led the Malian government for nine months between 2014 and 2015, is accused of attempting to weaken state authority and inciting public disorder through a statement shared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
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The statement expressed support for individuals described as prisoners of conscience being held by the current military regime.
The controversial post followed Mara’s visit in early July to a prison where several opposition members are reportedly being detained. In his message, the ex-premier pledged unwavering solidarity with those incarcerated, vowing to continue advocating for their release.
“As long as the night lasts, the sun will inevitably rise, we will fight by all means to make that happen, and as soon as possible,” he wrote.
Authorities say such language undermines the credibility of the state and challenges legitimate leadership. He has also been charged with encouraging unrest and defying the transitional government.
The former PM was first summoned by Mali’s national cybercrime unit earlier in July, but was detained again on Thursday for additional questioning. The charges were confirmed on Friday, and Mara is expected to appear in court on 29 September.
This comes amid ongoing political repression under Mali’s military rulers, who seized power in successive coups in 2020 and 2021. In May, the junta, led by Colonel Assimi Goïta, disbanded all political parties, citing national unity – a move widely condemned by civil society groups and international observers.
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Despite initial promises to return the country to civilian rule, Goïta recently secured a five-year transitional term through Mali’s appointed legislature. The term is renewable, and notably, was granted without any electoral process.
