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BAMAKO – Former Malian Prime Minister Moussa Mara was summoned on Wednesday, July 16, by the Judicial Investigation Brigade (BIJ) in Bamako following remarks he made on social media that authorities appear to consider politically sensitive.
Mara, who has not been formally charged, was questioned for several hours on Tuesday before being released and allowed to return home.
His summoning has sparked concern among political observers and civil society groups, many of whom fear a growing crackdown on dissent in the West African country.
The investigation stems from a message Mara posted on July 4, in which he stated he had visited several political and civil society figures currently imprisoned.
In the same message, he wrote: “While the night lasts, the sun will eventually appear!” — a phrase that some within the transitional government reportedly interpreted as a subtle challenge to their authority.
He went on to affirm his commitment to continue advocating for change, writing that he would “fight by all means to advance his cause.”
The post quickly caught the attention of the Attorney General and the country’s judicial anti-cybercrime unit, an agency widely criticized by human rights groups for allegedly targeting critics of the transitional government.
While Mara did not explicitly call for protest or unrest, some officials have described the tone of his statement as potentially destabilizing. However, supporters argue his remarks fall within the bounds of political expression and reflect growing frustration over the suppression of opposition voices in Mali.
The transitional authorities have faced increasing scrutiny over the treatment of political opponents, especially since the military assumed power in 2021.
Mara’s summoning is seen by many as the latest sign of tightening controls on free speech and democratic dialogue in a country still grappling with political instability.
Moussa Mara previously served as Prime Minister from 2014 to 2015 under President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta. His recent remarks have positioned him once again at the center of Mali’s tense political landscape.
