Mali Court Jails French Diplomatic Agent for 20 Years on Security Charges
A Bamako court handed down the sentence on Thursday for undermining state security. The ruling also included a fine and entry ban.
France 24A court in Mali sentenced a French intelligence agent with diplomatic status to 20 years in prison for undermining state security. The ruling was issued on Thursday. Judicial sources told AFP on Friday that the Frenchman had been detained since his arrest in August 2025.
The same sources confirmed he also received a €5,400 fine, equivalent to $6,225, and a 20-year ban on entering Mali. Three separate court sources verified the fine and entry ban. The sentencing adds to existing tensions between the West African country and France.
Mali has been ruled by a junta since 2021. The court decision marks another development in relations between the two nations.
