The Malian Supreme Court has approved the provisional release of senior executives from the state energy company, EDM-SA, including former Minister of Mines, Energy, and Water, Lamine Seydou Traoré.
The officials were detained for months on charges of forgery and mismanagement of public funds linked to a contentious tools acquisition deal.
The case stems from allegations that the acquisition process involved inflated contracts and irregularities, leading to significant financial losses for the state.
Critics have argued that the prolonged pretrial detention of the officials highlighted inefficiencies in the judicial process, while supporters see the release under judicial supervision as a fair balance between accountability and due process.
While they have been released from pretrial detention, the individuals will remain under judicial supervision as the case proceeds.
The decision comes amid growing scrutiny over public sector accountability and governance in Mali.
