Former US diplomat sentenced to life for abusing two girls in Burkina Faso
Summary
A U.S. citizen, Fode Sitafa Mara, was sentenced to life in prison for sexually abusing two teenage girls while working at the U.S. embassy in Burkina Faso. The crimes happened in 2022 and 2023, and the U.S. Department of Justice prosecuted the case under an initiative aimed at fighting child sexual exploitation.Key Facts
- Fode Sitafa Mara is a 41-year-old from Maryland who worked at the U.S. embassy in Burkina Faso.
- He was found guilty of multiple charges, including aggravated sexual abuse of a minor and attempted coercion.
- The crimes occurred in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso's capital, in 2022 and 2023.
- A U.S. court sentenced him to life in prison after a trial in October 2025.
- The prosecution used Project Safe Childhood, which targets child sexual exploitation.
- The crimes took place at a residence for U.S. diplomatic staff, allowing American legal action.
- The two victims were aged 13 and 15 when the abuse began and came from vulnerable backgrounds.
- Mara exploited the girls' situation, using their mother's illness to coerce them.
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