French diplomat sentenced Mali: 20‑year jail term deepens Mali‑France rift

French diplomat sentenced Mali

A Mali court on Friday handed a French intelligence officer with diplomatic immunity a ↓ 20‑year prison term for “undermining state security”, judicial sources told Reuters. The verdict arrives amid a simmering diplomatic standoff that began after the junta expelled French troops in 2022. Paris has condemned the ruling as politically motivated, while Bamako insists the agent breached national law.

“The judgment reflects the sovereign right of Mali to protect its security,” a senior official said.

The episode threatens to close the already narrow channel of cooperation between France and the West African junta, raising questions about future security assistance and regional stability.