Moussa Mara, a former Prime Minister of Mali, has been taken into pretrial detention following a social media post in which he expressed solidarity with jailed critics of the ruling military junta. His arrest, which occurred on August 1 (Friday), marks the latest move in a series of crackdowns on dissent by the West African nation’s military leadership. The news was widely reported on August 2 (Saturday), by the media.
Mara, who served as Prime Minister from 2014 to 2015, was reportedly arrested after a cybercrime prosecutor ordered his detention. According to his lawyer, Mountaga Tall, Mara faces charges including undermining state authority, inciting public disorder, and spreading false information. His trial is scheduled to begin on September 29 (Monday).
The former Prime Minister’s detention comes after he posted on social media on July 4 (Friday), stating that he had visited jailed critics of the military junta and vowed to fight for their justice. This public expression of support appears to have triggered the legal action against him.
Mali has been under military rule since General Assimi Goïta orchestrated two coups in 2020 and 2021. Despite earlier promises of a return to civilian rule, Goïta was granted an additional five years in power in June. This extension followed the military regime’s dissolution of political parties in May, a move that has been widely criticised by human rights organisations and international bodies.
Mara’s arrest is seen as a further tightening of control by the junta, particularly after the country witnessed its first pro-democracy rally in nearly four years. The ongoing political instability and the military’s suppression of opposition voices continue to be a significant concern for observers of the West African nation.
