A Malian court has sentenced a French embassy official to 20 years in prison on charges of espionage and undermining state security, judicial sources confirmed Friday. The ruling marks a fresh strain in relations between the West African nation, under military rule since its 2021 coup, and its former colonial power, France.

The French national, held since his arrest in August 2025, also received a €5,400 fine and a 20-year ban from entering Mali, according to three separate judicial sources.

Upon his arrest, Malian authorities alleged the diplomat, identified as Yann V., was working for French intelligence services and accused foreign states of attempting to destabilize the country, which has been plagued by insurgencies.

He was detained on August 13 alongside several Malian officers reportedly planning a coup to overthrow the junta.

France rejected the charges, calling them baseless. “Our officer is facing legal proceedings based on unfounded accusations,” the French Foreign Ministry stated. “He was carrying out a security cooperation mission, and France has not, directly or indirectly, participated in destabilizing Mali.”

Mali has faced a security crisis since 2012, fueled by violence from groups linked to Al-Qaïda and the Islamic State, as well as local criminal gangs.

Since the junta took power under Assimi Goïta, Mali has distanced itself from the West—especially France—in favor of strengthening ties with Russia.

Like its neighbors Niger and Burkina Faso, Mali is now governed by military leaders who seized power in recent years, promising greater security for the population.

However, analysts note that the Sahel region’s security situation has worsened under these juntas, with record numbers of attacks and civilian casualties, attributed to both jihadist groups and government forces.