A former United States diplomat has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the sexual abuse of two teenage girls while he was stationed in Burkina Faso. The conviction, announced by the US Department of Justice, underscores the legal reach of American authorities over crimes committed by its citizens abroad.
The 41-year-old, identified as Fode Sitafa Mara from Maryland, was sentenced on Wednesday following a two-week trial in October 2025. A jury in the state's federal district court found him guilty on multiple charges, including aggravated sexual abuse of a minor, attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, and attempted obstruction of justice.
Court proceedings revealed that the abuse occurred in 2022 and 2023 in Ouagadougou, the capital of the West African nation. At the time, Mara was employed by the US embassy. The crimes took place at a residence designated for US diplomatic personnel, a factor that brought the case under American jurisdiction as the property was reserved for official use.
The victims, aged 13 and 15 when the abuse began, were described by prosecutors as coming from a vulnerable background. Mara was found to have exploited their circumstances over approximately one year. According to statements from the Office of Public Affairs, he exploited the girls' mother's life-threatening illness as leverage, demanding sexual favors in return for assistance. He provided the teenagers with mobile phones to summon them to the residence, often when his wife was away at work. Evidence also showed he sent sexually explicit messages to one of the victims and attempted to persuade a housekeeper to mislead investigators.
The case was investigated by US authorities with cooperation from Burkina Faso. It was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation.
In statements following the sentencing, US officials emphasized the gravity of the crimes and the government's commitment to pursuing such cases. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva stated that while no sentence can undo the harm, the outcome demonstrates that those who abuse children, whether domestically or abroad, will face significant consequences in the American justice system. US Attorney Kelly Hayes for the District of Maryland added that the message is clear: those who prey on children will pay a hefty price.
