Mali’s former Prime Minister Moussa Mara appeared once again before a court specialising in cybercrime on Thursday, facing continued scrutiny over a controversial social media post made earlier this month. The summons follows a previous interrogation conducted two weeks ago by the country’s Judicial Investigation Brigade.
Mara, who stepped down as Prime Minister in 2015, posted on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on July 4, announcing that he had visited several detained public figures, including prominent journalist Ras Bath and social media influencer Rose Vie Chère. The post referred to them as “prisoners of conscience”, a phrase that has sparked speculation over the motive behind his legal summons.
Although no official charges have been brought against Mara, legal observers suggest the use of politically sensitive language in a country currently ruled by a military junta may have triggered the court’s attention. The junta, which took power in 2021, has consistently cracked down on dissenting voices and political criticism.
There has been no public statement from the Malian judiciary clarifying the precise nature of the inquiry. However, the term “prisoners of conscience” is widely viewed as a direct challenge to the government’s narrative surrounding recent high-profile arrests.
Despite being free, Mara has been barred from leaving Mali, a move interpreted by political analysts as a sign of escalating tensions between the former civilian leadership and the military authorities.
The incident adds to growing concerns over freedom of expression and political freedoms in Mali, where journalists, influencers, and civil society actors face increasing surveillance and legal pressure under the junta’s rule.
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