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A grand jury has indicted the spouse of a USAID diplomat stationed in Burkina Faso after allegedly abusing children at the couple’s U.S. Embassy-assigned residence.
Fode Sitafa Mara, 39, who was also employed at the embassy, faces charges including five counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor, coercion and enticement, and obstruction of justice. According to court documents, Mara allegedly abused two Burkinabe girls, ages 13 and 15, whom he met in their neighborhood. The indictment states that the girls, initially friends with the American family previously residing in Mara’s home, formed a relationship with Mara and his wife after their arrival in August 2022.
Prosecutors claim that Mara’s abuse began shortly after meeting the girls, involving explicit messages, money, and gifts. He is accused of repeatedly assaulting them over a year-long period. In court documents, Prosecutors said, “The defendant’s crimes are as serious as any that can be alleged. They stand out even in the context of child exploitation offenses. Mr. Mara repeatedly forcibly raped two children over the course of more than a year.”
Authorities were alerted to the alleged abuse in October 2023 when a guard and a housekeeper reported suspicious activities at the Mara residence. They noticed the girls visiting when Mara’s wife was away and observed troubling behavior. Subsequent investigations revealed Mara’s explicit communications with the victims and further incriminating evidence, which also included Mara asking the housekeeper to tell investigators that he was having an affair with him.
Mara is scheduled for a pretrial detention hearing, with prosecutors arguing for no bond due to the risk of flight and potential “danger to the community.” The State Department and USAID have not commented on news of his arrest.
