9
Former Malian Prime Minister Moussa Mara has been sentenced to one year in prison for expressing support for political prisoners in a social media post. The 50-year-old, who served from 2014 to 2015, was convicted by a Bamako cybercrime court of “undermining state credibility” and “opposing legitimate authority.” In his July 4 post, Mara voiced “unwavering solidarity” with the prisoners, prompting his arrest weeks later. His lawyers have appealed the “harsh” ruling, calling it politically motivated. Rights groups, including Amnesty International, condemned the sentence as a “travesty of justice,” accusing Mali’s junta of silencing dissent. This case highlights a widening crackdown on dissent under the ruling junta, which seized power in coups and has postponed promised elections.
Aljazeera