Mali’s ex-PM jailed for backing junta critics

Mali’s former prime minister, Moussa Mara, was placed in pretrial detention Friday for expressing support on social media for jailed critics of the ruling military junta, according to the Associated Press. Authorities accused him of undermining state authority and inciting disorder. The arrest marks a broader crackdown on dissent ahead of a September trial, as Mali’s junta tightens control after extending its rule by five years.