A court in Bamako, the capital of Mali, has sentenced former Prime Minister Moussa Mara to two years in prison, with one year suspended, after finding him guilty of “undermining the credibility of the state” and “opposing legitimate authority” over social media posts in which he expressed solidarity with political detainees.

The ruling, issued by the National Cybercrime Unit Court on Monday, also ordered Mara to pay a fine of 500,000 CFA francs (approximately €762) and one symbolic franc in damages to the Malian state, which declared itself a civil party in the case.

Mara, who served as prime minister between 2014 and 2015, is considered one of Mali’s most prominent opposition figures. His conviction has sparked widespread debate among political and human rights circles, many of whom described the verdict as politically motivated and part of a broader effort to silence dissenting voices in the country.