A French intelligence officer, identified as Lieutenant-Colonel Yann V., has been sentenced to 20 years in prison by a Malian court for undermining state security.
Key points
- The officer, who worked for the General Directorate for External Security (DGSE), was arrested in August 2025 in Bamako.
- The court also imposed a 20-year ban on residency in Mali and a fine of 5,400 euros.
- The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected the verdict, labeling the charges against their agent as baseless.
- The officer was detained alongside several Malian military officers accused of plotting a coup.
Why it matters
The sentencing marks a significant escalation in the diplomatic rift between France and Mali's military-led government, which has increasingly aligned itself with Russia.
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