A French intelligence officer operating under diplomatic cover was sentenced to 20 years in prison in Bamako for allegedly undermining state security, a move that Paris calls unsubstantiated accusations.

The officer, detained since August 2025, faces an additional 20-year entry ban to Mali and a €5,400 fine following a Thursday trial held behind closed doors. Three judicial sources confirmed the verdict, which stems from accusations of plotting against Mali’s transitional authorities.

Secret proceedings raise international concerns

The trial took place in the specialized terrorism chamber without public access, raising questions about procedural transparency. The officer was arrested during a joint operation with Malian military intelligence that also targeted several Malian officers, all of whom have since been dismissed but remain untried.

French authorities maintain the accusations lack merit, while Malian prosecutors allege the network aimed to destabilize the current administration through espionage activities.

Diplomatic fallout intensifies

Paris has strongly rejected the allegations, with the Foreign Ministry issuing statements rejecting what they describe as baseless claims. The case has further strained already tense relations between the two nations following recent geopolitical realignments in the Sahel region.