(FILES) Mali's Prime Minister Moussa Mara speaks to the press at the airport in Bamako on May 18, 2014 after he traveled to the northern city of Kidal, following clashes between separatist militants and the army left dozens dead. (Photo by Fabien OFFNER / AFP)An appeal court on Monday upheld a prison sentence against Mali’s former prime minister Moussa Mara which was handed down last year after he expressed support for political prisoners online. In July, he posted on social media that he had met political prisoners and promised justice. “The authorities must quash the baseless conviction and sentence and immediately release Moussa Mara. Mali is ruled by a military junta, which came to power in back-to-back coups in 2020 and 2021.

Source: Punch February 09, 2026 19:43 UTC