Sat Aug 02 07:48:06 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article based on the provided text:
**Former Malian Prime Minister Moussa Mara Charged with Undermining State Credibility**
**Bamako, Mali** – Former Malian Prime Minister Moussa Mara, who served briefly in 2014-2015, has been formally charged with “undermining the credibility of the state” following a social media post regarding his visits to political prisoners. Mara, detained after being summoned for questioning, is scheduled to stand trial on September 29th.
The charges stem from a July 4th post on X in which Mara discussed visiting the prisoners and vowed to fight for their justice, writing, “As long as the night lasts, the sun will obviously appear! We will fight by all means for this to happen as soon as possible!”
According to his lawyer, Mountaga Tall, Mara faces additional charges including inciting public disorder and spreading false information. Mara’s legal team is contesting both the charges and his detention.
Abdoulaye Yaro, a close associate of Mara, stated that the arrest was prompted by Mara’s expression of compassion for individuals jailed for their political beliefs.
The arrest occurs amidst a growing crackdown on dissent by Mali’s military government, led by General Assimi Goita, who orchestrated coups in 2020 and 2021. The current regime extended its rule in June, granting Goita an additional five years in power, despite earlier pledges to return to civilian governance by March 2024. This followed the dissolution of political parties in May.
Mara’s detention is the latest sign of increasing authoritarianism in Mali, which has been grappling with political instability in the Sahel region. Critics argue that the charges against Mara are politically motivated and represent an attempt to silence opposition voices. The legal proceedings are being closely watched as a test of the state of democracy and freedom of expression in the country.
First Piper 