Mali charges ex-PM Moussa Mara with undermining state credibility
Moussa Mara faces charges after expressing solidarity with detained opposition figures in a social media post.
A former Malian prime minister, now under military rule, has been formally charged with undermining state credibility after posting comments on social media.
In July, Moussa Mara visited detained opposition figures and declared on X his "unwavering solidarity with prisoners of conscience", vowing to keep their "flame of hope" alive.
The nine-month premier a decade ago has emerged as a vocal critic of the junta, which seized power in coups in 2020 and 2021 and dissolved all political parties in May following rare anti-government protests.
On Thursday, Mara was detained and questioned for a second time by the national cybercrime unit over his 4 July X post. Prosecutors argue that his reference to "prisoners of conscience" and his pledge to "fight by all means" against the authorities constitute criminal offences.
Alongside the undermining charge, he was also accused of opposing legitimate authority and inciting public disorder. His trial is scheduled for 29 September.
Last month, military leader Gen Assimi Goïta secured a five-year presidential term from the transitional parliament, renewable without elections. He had promised polls after the 2021 coup but has since delayed them, setback to the return of multi-party rule.
The charges against Mara highlight the junta's intolerance of dissent and raise serious questions about freedom of expression in Mali.
This topic was reported by BBC News.
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