Mali Pardons, Expels French Agent Yann Vezilier After Jail Term

France welcomed Mali's pardon of Yann Vézilier, a French national who had been serving a 20-year prison sentence.

Vézilier, stationed at the French embassy in Bamako, was arrested a year ago on charges of being a spy and undermining state security. Mali's transitional leader, General Assimi Goita, granted the presidential pardon, which requires Vézilier's immediate removal from the West African country. The Malian government issued a decree on Thursday, stating the clemency does not call into question the facts established by the court during his trial.

Vézilier was convicted in June of undermining the external security of the state and was also reportedly fined 3.6 million CFA francs (about $6,400) and barred from Mali for 22 years. He was arrested in Bamako in August 2025 alongside several Malian military officers, including two generals, who were allegedly planning a coup. Bamako accused Vézilier of working for French intelligence and recruiting figures to destabilize the transitional government.

France confirmed Vézilier worked at its embassy but rejected the accusations as baseless, arguing he held diplomatic accreditation and was protected under the Vienna Convention. Mali stated an unnamed brother country helped secure the pardon through its good offices. The case further strained relations between Mali and France, which deteriorated after military coups in 2020 and 2021.