Mali ex-PM Mara charged over social media post, says lawyer
Moussa Mara has openly questioned moves to dissolve political parties and grant the military government a five-year mandate without elections
A Malian court has detained and charged former Prime Minister Moussa Mara over a social media post criticising shrinking democratic space under military rule in the West African nation, his lawyer said late Friday.
Mara is one of few public figures in the country willing to openly question moves taken this year to dissolve political parties and grant the military government, led by Assimi Goita, a five-year mandate without elections.
Last month, authorities formally approved Goita’s five-year term and said it could be renewed as many times as necessary as Mali struggles to respond to a long-running jihadist insurgency.
Goita assumed power after military coups in 2020 and 2021.
Mara had been summoned several times for questioning recently over a social media post dated July 4 expressing solidarity with government critics who have been jailed.
On July 21, his lawyer, Mountaga Tall, posted on social media site X that Mara had been barred from boarding a flight to Senegal to participate in a regional conference on peace and security.