Former U.S. embassy worker gets life sentence for Child Abuse in Burkina Faso

A former employee of the United States Embassy in Ouagadougou has been sentenced to life in federal prison after being convicted of sexually abusing two minors while stationed in Burkina Faso.

Fode Sitafa Mara of Takoma Park, Maryland, was found guilty in October 2025 following a two-week trial in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.

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A federal jury convicted him on multiple counts, including aggravated sexual abuse of a minor, attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, and attempted obstruction of justice.

According to the United States Department of Justice, the offences occurred in 2022 and 2023 while Mara was employed at the embassy in Ouagadougou.

Prosecutors said the crimes took place at his embassy-leased residence and involved two teenage girls, ages 13 and 15.

Mara, who held diplomatic status at the time and was married to a U.S. diplomat, was accused of targeting vulnerable victims during his overseas assignment.

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Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva condemned the crimes in strong terms.

“The defendant, while representing the U.S. government abroad, violently sexually abused two acutely vulnerable child victims,” Duva said.

“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.”

🚨 Former American Embassy employee sentenced for rape of minors in Burkina Faso pic.twitter.com/xATNBOuuOj

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) February 26, 2026

U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland echoed that message.

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“Our message is clear, those who prey on our children will pay a hefty price,” Hayes stated.

“Mara targeted and abused two innocent young girls, and now he’ll be behind bars for a long time where he belongs.”

Deputy Assistant Director George Semertsidis of the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) emphasised accountability within diplomatic missions.

“We will thoroughly investigate any allegations of criminal conduct by those associated with U.S. diplomatic facilities and work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to bring offenders to justice,” he said.

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Mara was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby to life imprisonment, followed by lifetime supervised release. He is not eligible for parole.

The case was investigated by the Diplomatic Security Service, with assistance from the FBI and other federal agencies. Prosecutors from the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section handled the trial.