Former U.S. embassy employee sentenced to life in federal prison for sexual abuse of teen girls in Burkina Faso

BALTIMORE (TCN) -- A former employee of the U.S. embassy in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, was sentenced Feb. 26 to life in prison for the sexual abuse of two teenage girls during the time he was working in the country. 

The Associated Press reports 41-year-old Fode Sitafa Mara was convicted in 2025 of 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. According to the evidence shown at trial, Mara, a U.S. citizen, raped the girls in 2022 and 2023.

The U.S. prosecuted the case because the apartment where Mara lived, and committed the crimes, was reserved for U.S. diplomatic personnel use and therefore under U.S. jurisdiction, according to the AP.

WUSA reports the person who had previously lived in the apartment had developed a relationship with the girls, ages 13 and 15 at the time they knew Mara, and their family. The family lived in the area and did not having running water in their home, and the previous resident of the apartment provided them with food and safety. WUSA reports Mara capitalized on that relationship. He told the girls that he would not help them or their mother, who was ill, without “receiving something in return.”

While Mara’s wife was gone, he would call the girls on a cellphone he gave them to have them come over. He also sent one of the girls explicit messages. WUSA reports Mara tried to get his housekeeper to lie to investigators in an attempt to cover up the abuse.

WUSA reports both girls submitted victim impact statements to be read at sentencing. They both said they had been traumatized by the abuse, and that it had damaged their relationship with their family members and their relationship with each other. One of the girls wrote that she was terrified that if Mara was released, he would come to Burkina Faso to retaliate against them. 

Of the sentencing, Kelly Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, said, “Our message is clear: Those who prey on our children will pay a hefty price.”

The AP reports Mara has maintained his innocence throughout the case and his attorney said he plans to appeal. 

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