Malian authorities have prevented former Prime Minister Moussa Mara from traveling to Senegal to attend the “Dialogue on Peace and Security in the Sahel and Sahara” conference, scheduled for July 22–23, where he was set to deliver the opening address.
The travel ban follows a tweet Mara posted on July 4, expressing solidarity with detainees he had visited in the prisons of Bamako, Dioïla, and Koulikoro, pledging to “continue the struggle” on their behalf.
According to his lawyer, two police officers stopped him at Bamako International Airport without providing any official documentation.
Judicial authorities questioned Mara on July 15 to assess the legality of his prison visits and the compliance of his public statements with national laws. No formal charges have been filed as of yet.
His legal team condemned the move as a “serious violation of fundamental rights,” arguing that it contravenes the Malian Constitution and international legal commitments.
The Dakar conference aims to foster dialogue on peace and stability in the Sahel region, with the participation of government officials, experts, and civil society representatives.
