Fode Sitafa Mara, Rape of Minors, Maryland 2025

Burkina Faso – In a disturbing case of child abuse, a former American Embassy employee in Burkina Faso has been sentenced to life in prison for forcibly sexually assaulting two minor girls.

Fode Sitafa Mara, a 41-year-old U.S. citizen, was convicted of four counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor, as well as one count each of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and attempted obstruction of justice, following a two-week trial in October 2025.

The crimes were committed on multiple occasions in 2022 and 2023 at Mara’s Embassy-leased residence in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The residence was reserved for use by U.S. diplomatic personnel and fell under the United States’ jurisdiction for prosecution.

‘The defendant, while representing the U.S. government abroad, violently sexually abused two acutely vulnerable child victims,’ said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. ‘His crimes were reprehensible. While no sentence could undo the harm he caused, today’s outcome demonstrates that those who abuse children – domestically or abroad – will face significant consequences in the American justice system.’

Mara, a former employee at the U.S. Embassy in Ouagadougou, targeted and abused two innocent young girls. He will now be behind bars for a long time, a fitting consequence for his heinous crimes.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Mara forcibly raped the two teenage Burkinabé girls at his Embassy-leased residence. The previous resident of Mara’s residence had developed a relationship with the minor victims and their family.

The U.S. government, through various agencies, has committed to pursuing justice for victims of child abuse and exploitation. The Diplomatic Security Service, the U.S. Agency for International Development Office of Inspector General, and Homeland Security Investigations have all expressed their commitment to protecting children and holding perpetrators accountable.

Fode Sitafa Mara, Defendant

Charges: Four counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor, one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, and one count of attempted obstruction of justice

City and State: Maryland

Date: October 2025 (sentencing), 2022 and 2023 (crimes committed)

Sentence: Life in prison

This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of protecting children and vulnerable populations from exploitation and abuse. The U.S. government’s commitment to justice and accountability will continue to be a beacon of hope for victims and their families.

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