The two-year prison sentence—including one year without parole and a 500,000 CFA franc fine (€762), of which just one franc goes to the Malian state—handed to former Prime Minister Moussa Mara for alleged offenses such as damaging the state’s reputation is a travesty of justice, Amnesty International has declared. The organization is calling on authorities to release Mara immediately, along with all others imprisoned solely for expressing political opinions.
« The conviction and sentence imposed on Moussa Mara reflect the Malian authorities’ persistent disregard for their human rights obligations under the country’s Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, all of which Mali has ratified, » said Marceau Sivieude, Regional Director for Amnesty International in West and Central Africa.
« Instead of silencing dissenting voices, the authorities must end the escalating crackdown on peaceful opposition and authoritarian practices, and release all those currently detained simply for voicing their opinions. The government must uphold and protect the human rights of everyone in Mali, including freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly. »
Moussa Mara, who served as Prime Minister from April 2014 to January 2015 and leads the opposition party Yéléma, was arrested on August 1 on charges of « damaging the state’s reputation, » « inciting public disorder, » and « opposing legitimate authority. »
His arrest followed a July 4 tweet in which he expressed solidarity with several detained activists and politicians. Referring to the « night, » he vowed to fight « by all means » for « the sun to rise. »
« The authorities must stop relying on arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, and the abusive use of the criminal justice system to silence peaceful dissent in Mali. »
Marceau Sivieude, Regional Director for Amnesty International in West and Central Africa
recent cases of arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances
A growing number of journalists and activists have become targets in the government’s escalating crackdown on dissent.
On May 8, 2025, investigative journalist El Béchir Thiam, a member of Moussa Mara’s Yéléma party, was abducted by masked men claiming to be intelligence agents. This occurred a day after he publicly criticized the transitional parliament’s decision to grant the military government a new five-year mandate. Thiam’s whereabouts and detention conditions remained unknown for months, as authorities neither acknowledged his detention nor disclosed any information. His wife filed a missing person report on July 17, and he was finally released and allowed to return home on September 26.
Clément Dembélé, an anti-corruption activist, was arrested in November 2023 while preparing a press conference with his organization, Platform Against Corruption and Unemployment, to denounce recurring power cuts. He was charged with making death threats against transitional leader Assimi Goïta and his family. In April 2025, a judge dismissed the charges and ordered his release, yet he remains arbitrarily detained.
In August and September 2025, the UN Independent Expert on Mali condemned the enforced disappearance of El Béchir Thiam and the arbitrary arrest of Clément Dembélé, urging their immediate and unconditional release.
« The authorities must stop using arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, and the abusive manipulation of the legal system to suppress peaceful opposition in Mali, » Sivieude reiterated. « They must ensure fair trials and uphold the rule of law. »
other critics silenced since 2023
Rokiatou Doumbia, also known as « Rose Vie Chère » or « Tantie Rose, » was arrested in March 2023 for speaking out against deteriorating security and rising living costs following the 2020 military takeover. She faced charges of « inciting rebellion, » « damaging the state’s reputation, » and « criminal association, » and was sentenced to one year in prison in August 2023. Though she served her initial term, she remains arbitrarily detained.
In March 2023, radio host and activist Mohamed Youssouf Bathily, known as « Ras Bath, » was arrested after calling the death in custody of former Prime Minister Soumeylou Boubeye Maïga an « assassination. » In August 2023, he was sentenced on appeal to 18 months in prison for « falsely reporting a crime, » accused of accusing the state of wrongdoing. Despite completing his sentence, Ras Bath has since been re-indicted on charges of « criminal association, » « damaging the state’s reputation, » and « regionalist, racist, and religious crimes »—all tied to the same statements—and remains in pretrial detention.
In September 2023, activist and transitional council member Adama Diarra, nicknamed « Ben le Cerveau, » was arrested after calling for a return to civilian constitutional rule. He was convicted of « damaging the state’s reputation » and sentenced to two years in prison. In February 2025, a request for provisional release filed by his lawyers was denied, and Diarra continues to be held arbitrarily.
Issa Kaou N’Djim, another former transitional council member, was sentenced to two years in prison in November 2024 after questioning the credibility of a statement by Burkinabè authorities regarding an alleged coup attempt. N’Djim was arrested following a complaint filed by Burkinabè officials and charged with « public offense against a foreign head of state. »
background
The Mali has been under military rule since the 2020 coup against former President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta. The originally 18-month transition period has been extended three times, with the latest announcement in April 2025 extending the transition for another five years and dissolving all political parties.
