Two Malian soldiers jailed for plotting coup in 2014

Two Malian soldiers were sentenced on Wednesday to five years in prison for a coup attempt in 2014 against Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, a judicial source said on Thursday.

“The Court of Assizes of Bamako, in its hearing on Wednesday, May 4, condemned Lieutenant Mohamed Ouattara and Sergeant Amara Sylla to five years in prison for the attempted coup,” said a statement released by the court.

According to the order for reference which AFP had access to, “Lieutenant Mohamed Ouattara, an officer from the 333 regiment of paratroopers and Sergeant Amara Sylla, had a meeting which hatched a military coup against the regime of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta,” read the charges brought to court by prosecutors.

According to the same document, soldiers who testified at the trial, had claimed during the investigation that “Lieutenant Mohamed Ouattara had approached them to attack the home of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta to capture, or kill him”.

The verdict described places of appointment and the assumed mode of action to achieve the coup.

Defense lawyer, Magatte Seye, condemned the judgement and maintained the duo was innocent.

Another soldier, also accused of involvement in the execution of the coup, was however acquitted.