Amnesty International has called on the Malian government to overturn the conviction of former Prime Minister Moussa Mara and to secure his immediate release. The organization contends that the charges against Mara are unfounded and reflect a broader strategy by the authorities to suppress dissenting voices within the country.
The case has drawn considerable attention due to its implications for free expression and political participation in Mali. According to Amnesty International, the prosecution highlights a troubling pattern where criminal law is employed to silence critics, thereby violating constitutional guarantees and international human rights commitments.
Mara was arrested on August 1, 2025, after publicly expressing his “unwavering solidarity with prisoners of conscience.” He faced multiple charges, including “discrediting the state,” inciting public disorder, and undermining state authority. These accusations stemmed from a post on X (formerly Twitter), where he voiced support for detained political figures and activists whom he had visited. Following several hours of questioning at a judicial investigation unit, Mara was allowed to return home but was required to reappear the next day as investigations continued.
In October 2025, Mali’s cybercrime court convicted Mara based on his social media activity, sentencing him to two years in prison, which includes one year of mandatory custody, alongside a fine of 500,000 CFA francs. An appellate court later upheld this judgment, confirming the conviction.
Amnesty International argues that the charges against Mara criminalize peaceful expression, lacking legal validity under both Malian law and international treaties. The organization’s statement emphasized that prosecuting individuals for expressing support for detainees is incompatible with the rights to political participation and public discourse. Moreover, they highlighted that the judicial processes in this case exemplify a systemic misuse of legal frameworks for political ends.
Mali has been under military rule since a coup ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta in 2020. Although transitional leaders initially pledged a return to civilian governance within 18 months, this timeline has been extended three times. In April 2025, the authorities dissolved all political parties and further prolonged the transition period by an additional five years.
The legal environment for public figures in Mali has become increasingly repressive. Activist Adama Diarra, known as “Ben le Cerveau,” received a two-year sentence in 2023 for criticizing the potential extension of the political transition. Similarly, former Vice President of the National Transitional Council, Issa Kaou N’Djim, was sentenced to two years for his comments about the authorities in neighboring Burkina Faso but was released after serving one year.
In September 2025, Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, expressed concerns regarding the deteriorating state of civil liberties in Mali. He urged the military authorities to repeal laws hindering democratic transition and to release all individuals detained unlawfully.
The situation surrounding Moussa Mara exemplifies the ongoing challenges to freedom of speech and political rights in Mali, highlighting a critical juncture for the nation as it navigates its path toward governance and human rights.
