Former Malian Prime Minister Moussa Mara was sentenced Monday to two years in prison, one of which was suspended, for "undermining the credibility of the state and opposing legitimate authority" after supporting political prisoners on social media.

Moussa Mara, who was Mali's prime minister for eight months in 2014-2015, was charged and imprisoned on August 1 after claiming on social media that he had visited prisoners, "prisoners of conscience," to whom he had promised that one day they would obtain justice.

In detention since his indictment, Mr. Mara listened impassively as his sentence was handed down by the National Cybercrime Unit in Bamako, an AFP correspondent noted.

The former head of the Malian government must also pay a fine of 500,000 CFA francs (760 euros) and will have to pay a symbolic one franc to the State, a civil party in the case.

This sentence corresponds to the prosecution's demands, which had requested 24 months of imprisonment.

"It's not over," Mr. Mara's lawyer, Mountaga Tall, told AFP, adding: "We will consult with our client and agree on the next steps."

A close friend of the former prime minister, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons, told AFP he was not surprised by the decision: "We expected it. It's the prince's doing. Tell me what his crime is?"

Mali has been ruled by a junta since two coups d'état in 2020 and 2021. The military has cracked down on the press and critical voices. It has also dissolved political parties and political organizations.

Since 2012, this Sahelian country has been facing a profound security crisis fueled in particular by violence from groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS) organization, as well as community-based criminal groups. This comes on top of a serious economic crisis.

The junta, led by General Assimi Goïta, had pledged to hand over power to civilians by March 2024, but has since failed to keep this promise.

In July, the military regime granted Mr. Goïta a five-year presidential mandate, renewable "as many times as necessary" and without an election.