Diplomatic crisis – A French intelligence officer operating under diplomatic cover has been sentenced to 20 years in prison in Mali for allegedly threatening national security.

On Friday, a Malian court delivered the verdict against the French agent, who has been held in Bamako for nearly a year. The sentence includes 20 years of entry ban from Mali and a €5,400 fine. The ruling was confirmed by multiple judicial sources.

The officer, identified as Yann V., was arrested in August 2025 during a joint operation by Mali’s State Security (SE) and the country’s armed forces. Officials accused him of conspiring with Malian military personnel to destabilize the transitional government, allegedly plotting a coup d’état.

Closed-door trial raises international concerns

The case was adjudicated Thursday before the criminal chamber of Mali’s anti-terrorism court, with the verdict announced the following day. According to judicial sources, the trial was conducted behind closed doors, heightening scrutiny over the proceedings.

Among those detained alongside the French officer were several Malian military officers, who have since been dismissed from service. None of these officers have yet faced trial, despite facing identical charges of espionage and conspiracy.

France dismisses allegations as unfounded

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs swiftly condemned the verdict, labeling the accusations as groundless. Diplomatic tensions between Paris and Bamako have intensified in recent years, particularly following Mali’s shift in alliances and the military junta’s decision to sever security cooperation with former colonial power France.