• Moussa Mara, former prime minister of Mali, faces charges for a social media post.
• The charges include "undermining the credibility of the state" and "spreading false information."
• Mara's trial is scheduled for September 29, amidst a crackdown on dissent by the military regime.
• The military junta has previously dissolved political parties and limited political freedoms.
• Human rights groups criticize Mali's deteriorating democratic environment since the military takeover.

Mali's military government has charged former Prime Minister Moussa Mara with "undermining the credibility of the state" following a social media post expressing solidarity with political prisoners. The charges arise after Mara visited incarcerated opposition figures in July and stated his "unwavering solidarity with prisoners of conscience" on X, also known as Twitter. His post, which includes a powerful assertion that “as long as the night lasts, the sun will inevitably rise," has led to his detention for questioning multiple times by the national cybercrime unit, according to aljazeera, bbc, and africanews.

The authorities have indicated that Mara faces additional charges for inciting public disorder and the spread of false information. His trial is set for September 29, 2025, as the military junta continues to restrict political expression, silencing critics and enforcing a ban on political parties since its 2020 and 2021 coups. Human rights organizations express concern about the increasingly authoritarian measures being taken by the junta, as noted by aljazeera, bbc, and africanews.

Mara's arrest represents the broader crackdown on political dissent that has occurred since the military took power, with authorities accusing him of opposing legitimate authority. The situation in Mali continues to draw scrutiny from human rights advocates who criticize the military's handling of both political and humanitarian issues in the nation, according to aljazeera, bbc, and africanews.