Mali Court Jails French DGSE Agent for 20 Years, Also Bans Him from Country and Fines Him €5,500
A Malian court sentenced Yann V., a registered DGSE officer, to 20 years in prison and a fine for undermining state security. The ruling also bars him from Mali for 20 years.
rnz.co.nzAn agent of France's foreign intelligence service, to 20 years in prison on June 5 2026. The criminal chamber of the special judicial unit for terrorism and cross-border crime handed down the sentence after finding him guilty of undermining state security. 6 million CFA francs, equivalent to €5,488.
Yann V. had been detained in Bamako for nearly a year at the time of sentencing. He was arrested on August 14 2025 by Mali's state intelligence services while serving as second secretary at the French embassy.
Malian authorities accused him of taking part in a destabilization attempt against the junta led by General Assimi Goïta. Around 10 Malian military personnel and high-ranking officers were taken in for questioning along with Yann V. at the time of his arrest.
Yann V. was officially registered as a DGSE agent with Malian authorities and was present in Mali under his real identity. Le Monde reported that an official French source confirmed the conviction details.
The court proceedings took place in the criminal chamber of the special judicial unit for terrorism and cross-border crime.
