Mali court sentences French diplomat to 20 years prison

Monday 08 June 2026 - 15:51

By: Dakir Madiha

Mali court sentences French diplomat to 20 years prison

A specialized anti-terrorism court in Bamako has sentenced a French intelligence official with diplomatic status to 20 years in prison for undermining state security. The court also imposed a fine of $6,225 and a 20-year ban on entering Mali, according to judicial sources. The proceedings were held behind closed doors.

The case dates back to August 2025, when Malian authorities arrested the official while he was serving at the French embassy in Bamako. Authorities accused him of working for French intelligence services and attempting to destabilize the state. He was detained alongside Malian military officers who were later accused of involvement in a coup plot against the ruling authorities. Those officers were dismissed from service and have not been brought to trial.

France rejected the accusations and described the case as unfounded. French authorities stated that the official was engaged in legitimate security cooperation activities. Following the arrest, France suspended counterterrorism coordination with Mali and expelled two Malian diplomats, deepening the diplomatic rift between the two countries.

The ruling comes against the backdrop of prolonged instability in Mali, where armed conflict has persisted since 2012. The country continues to face attacks from groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, alongside local armed networks. The security crisis has reshaped Mali’s foreign partnerships, with the ruling military authorities moving away from traditional Western allies.

Tensions escalated further in April 2026 after coordinated attacks by jihadist and Tuareg rebel groups targeted military positions across the country. The assaults led to significant losses for government forces, including the death of Defence Minister Sadio Camara and the fall of the strategic northern town of Kidal, underscoring the scale of insecurity affecting the state.