Yann Vezilier, a French national, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison by Mali's military-led government for allegedly plotting to destabilize the country. His conviction, announced late on Thursday, has heightened tensions between Bamako and Paris. Vezilier was arrested in August 2022, along with two Malian generals, accused of collaborating with French intelligence to incite opposition against the government of Assimi Goita. France has consistently denied these allegations, asserting that Vezilier was engaged in a legitimate security cooperation mission and not involved in any destabilizing activities. Following the sentencing, French diplomatic sources expressed concern over Vezilier's deteriorating health while Mali's government has not commented on the matter. The case is set against a backdrop of significant unrest in Mali, driven by Islamist insurgencies and political instability over the past decade, which has seen multiple coups. Relations between Mali and France, its former colonial power, have sharply declined, mirroring a broader regional trend as countries like Burkina Faso and Niger also move away from French influence.