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Rabat – A court in Mali has sentenced a French intelligence official with diplomatic status to 20 years in prison for “undermining state security,” in a ruling that is expected to further strain already tense relations between Paris and Bamako.
A specialized anti-terrorism court in the capital, Bamako, issued the decision on Thursday, according to judicial sources. The trial was held behind closed doors, a source told AFP. The official, identified as Yann V., was also fined $6,225 and banned from entering Mali for 20 years.
He was arrested in August 2025 while serving at the French embassy in Bamako. At the time, Malian authorities accused him of working for French intelligence and trying to destabilize the country. He was detained alongside Malian officers who were later accused of plotting a coup against the ruling military authorities. Those officers have since been dismissed and have not faced trial.
France strongly rejected the accusations. The French foreign ministry called the case “baseless” and said the official was carrying out legitimate security cooperation duties. Paris demanded his immediate release and insisted that France had no role in any destabilization efforts.
Following the arrest, France suspended counterterrorism cooperation with Mali and expelled two Malian diplomats.
The ruling comes as Mali continues to face a serious security crisis that began in 2012. The country has been battling armed groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group, as well as local criminal networks.
Mali has moved away from Western partners under the leadership of junta chief Assimi Goïta, and strengthened ties with Russia, including cooperation with Russian mercenaries in its fight against insurgent groups.
Tensions have risen further in recent months. In April 2026, coordinated attacks by jihadist and Tuareg rebel groups hit military positions across the country. The assaults killed Defence Minister Sadio Camara, a key figure in Mali’s military leadership, and led to the fall of the strategic northern town of Kidal.
