Mali court sentences French agent to 20 years for undermining state security

A French national accused of espionage has been sentenced to 20 years in prison by a Malian court for undermining state security. The man, identified as Yann V., was arrested in Bamako in August 2025 and was alleged to be a French intelligence officer operating under diplomatic cover.

The verdict was delivered on Thursday by the criminal chamber of Mali’s specialised counterterrorism unit. Alongside the prison term, the court imposed a 20-year ban from entering Mali and fined him 5,400 euros.

According to Malian authorities, Yann V. was detained on 13 August 2025 during an operation by the State Security service. He was officially assigned to the French embassy in Bamako and was apprehended alongside several officers from the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa).

Those military personnel have since been dismissed from the army and are accused of being part of an espionage and conspiracy network aimed at destabilising Mali’s transitional institutions and orchestrating a coup attempt. Their trial has not yet taken place.

France has strongly rejected the allegations. In response to the sentencing, the French foreign ministry described the charges as baseless and stated that Yann V. was engaged in a legitimate security cooperation mission. Paris insists it has never played any role in attempts to destabilise Mali.

The case has already escalated diplomatic tensions between the two nations. Following the arrest, France suspended its counterterrorism cooperation with Mali and ordered two Malian diplomats to leave the country.

Relations between Bamako and Paris have deteriorated sharply since Mali’s military took power in the 2020 and 2021 coups. The Malian authorities have steadily reduced collaboration with Western partners, particularly France, while deepening political and security ties with Russia.