A French intelligence officer with diplomatic immunity, held in Bamako for nearly a decade, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for alleged “threats to state security,” a move swiftly condemned by Paris as “baseless accusations.”

On Friday, Malian courts delivered the verdict against the French national, who has been detained since August 2025. The officer, accused of plotting against Mali’s institutions amid escalating tensions with France, also faces a 20-year travel ban in Mali and a €5,400 fine, according to three judicial sources familiar with the case.

The defendant, identified as Yann V., was arrested during a joint operation by Mali’s State Security (SE) and national authorities. Official records list his affiliation with the French embassy in Bamako, though French officials have not publicly confirmed his role or diplomatic status.

Closed-door trial proceedings

The verdict followed a one-day hearing Thursday before the specialized criminal chamber tasked with counterterrorism and anti-state crimes. All proceedings were conducted behind closed doors, as confirmed by sources with direct knowledge of the case.

During the arrest, Yann V. was taken into custody alongside several Malian military officers from the Armed Forces (FAMa). These officers, later dismissed from service, remain unprosecuted and are accused of operating a spy network aimed at destabilizing Mali’s transitional government, allegedly plotting a coup.

Paris rejects allegations as ‘unfounded’

French diplomatic channels have vehemently denied the accusations, labeling them as ‘without merit’ and demanding the officer’s immediate release. The case has further strained relations between Bamako and Paris, amid a broader regional shift away from former colonial power ties.