Madrid, 1 August 2025
On that date, Mr. Mara published a message on X (formerly Twitter) in which he shared that he had visited several individuals in detention — including journalist Ras Bath, activist Clément Dembélé, and influencer Rose “La Vie Chère” — referring to them as “prisoners of conscience.” This message has been interpreted by the transitional authorities as an attempt to undermine the credibility of the State, oppose legitimate authority, incite public disorder, and disseminate false information falsely attributed to third parties, in bad faith. A court date has been set for 29 September 2025.
Custodial detention follows a travel ban issued on July 21st when he was not allowed to leave Bamako to attend an International Conference in Senegal and two previous summons during this last week with no legal clarity.
These developments are unfolding in a context where Mali’s constitutional order remains suspended, following the seizure of power by military authorities in 2021 and the repeated postponement of announced elections. In such an environment, the shrinking of civic space and the use of judicial mechanisms to target dissenting voices raise serious concerns.
Members of Club de Madrid:
- We urge malian authorities to guarantee Mr. Mara’s right to a fair and transparent legal process, in full accordance with national and international standards of justice and human rights.
- Underscore that the criminalisation of peaceful public commentary—particularly when expressed by democratic leaders—undermines the credibility of any transition process and the prospects for democratic restoration.
- Reaffirm their solidarity with all Malian citizens committed to civic dialogue, institutional accountability and a return to constitutional and democratic governance grounded in the rule of law.
Club de Madrid will continue to monitor this case closely and reiterates its readiness to support efforts that promote inclusive governance, democratic renewal and respect for fundamental freedoms in Mali.
End of statement
