Colonel Alpha Yaya Sangaré sentenced to 20 years in prison by the military court of Bamako

Colonel Alpha Yaya Sangaré was sentenced to 20 years in prison by the military court of Bamako on September 3, 2026. Detained since March 2024, he was charged with treason and spreading false news after the publication of his book, 'Mali: The Challenge of Terrorism in Africa,' which discusses army abuses. Although the prosecution sought the death penalty, the court imposed a lesser sentence. Sangaré had been dismissed from the Malian Armed Forces in December 2025.