Mali court sentences former prime minister to two years in jail

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BAMAKO (Reuters) -A Malian court has sentenced former Prime Minister Moussa Mara to two years in prison over a social media post that criticized military rulers for shrinking democratic space in the West African nation, his lawyer said on Monday.

Mara is among a handful of public figures to openly question Assimi Goita’s military government, which earlier this year dissolved political parties and granted itself a new five-year mandate without elections.

His lawyer, Mountaga Tall, posted on social media site X that Mara had also been fined 500,000 CFA ($887.10).

Amnesty International said in a statement that Mara’s sentence was part of a wider crackdown on dissent, citing several examples of journalists and activists that had been detained after criticizing Mali’s military rulers. 

“Instead of muzzling critics, the authorities must stop their escalating repression of peaceful dissent and authoritarian practices,” the statement said. 

Mali’s government did not comment and lawyers for the prosecution could not be reached for comment.

Mali’s rulers face a growing challenge containing a resurgent jihadist insurgency. In recent weeks, Al Qaeda-allied militants have sought to choke off fuel deliveries to the landlocked nation, forcing schools to close until mid-November.

($1 = 563.63 CFA) 

(Reporting by Mali newsroom; Writing by Jessica Donati; Editing by Richard Chang)