A former United States embassy staff member has received a life sentence in federal prison following a prolonged campaign of sexual violence against two highly vulnerable teenage girls in Burkina Faso. Fode Sitafa Mara, an American citizen from Takoma Park, Maryland, weaponised the victims' desperate living conditions and their mother's severe illness to coerce them into repeated sexual encounters.
The 41-year-old was stationed in the West African nation's capital, Ouagadougou, where he resided in an exclusive, taxpayer-funded diplomatic housing compound. Just a short distance away, his 13-year-old and 15-year-old victims lived in a squalid slum that lacked basic necessities such as running water, making them highly susceptible to his manipulation.
Exploiting Severe Poverty to Commit Reprehensible Crimes
Court documents reveal that the systematic abuse occurred over the course of a year between 2022 and 2023. Mara deliberately targeted the Burkinabé girls, who had previously formed a trusting relationship with the American family that occupied the residence before him.
Prosecutors detailed how Mara blackmailed the teenagers by exploiting their mother's life-threatening medical condition. He falsely insisted that he would only provide the critical assistance their sick mother needed if they engaged in sexual acts with him.
To facilitate his crimes, Mara purchased smartphones for both girls to establish a direct line of communication. These mobile devices were strictly used to contact the victims and summon them to his residence while his wife was away at work.
Attempted Cover-Up and Obstruction of Federal Justice
When investigators began looking into the severe allegations, Mara took immediate steps to conceal his illicit activities. He forcefully confiscated the mobile phones he had previously given the teenagers to destroy any digital evidence of their communications.
He also approached his housekeeper in an attempt to manipulate the ongoing investigation. He desperately tried to persuade her to lie to United States authorities by claiming that they were having a consensual affair, a request she outright refused.
Despite his extensive efforts to hide the truth, a federal jury found him guilty in October on multiple severe charges. These convictions included aggravated sexual abuse of a minor, attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, and attempted obstruction of justice during a federal probe.
Maryland Federal Judge Delivers a Life Sentence
On 26 February, Maryland federal Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby delivered the maximum possible punishment for the horrific offences. The sentencing hearing concluded with Mara being ordered to spend the rest of his natural life behind bars for his actions.
Justice Department officials emphasised the gravity of the betrayal, noting that Mara committed these atrocities while officially representing his country overseas. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva condemned the former embassy worker's actions in a public statement released shortly after the life sentence was formally handed down.
🚨 EXCLUSIF: 🇺🇸🇿🇦 Ex-employee of the US embassy in Africa sentenced to life for raping two girls
— Trump Fact News 🇺🇸 (@Trump_Fact_News) February 26, 2026
The man promised to help their sick mother before committing the crime.
(F) pic.twitter.com/ACDNkkcyYX
'The defendant, while representing the U.S. government abroad, violently sexually abused two acutely vulnerable child victims.' Duva stated. '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.,'
This landmark case highlights the stringent measures federal authorities will take to prosecute overseas crimes committed by government personnel. A recent news report showed that diplomatic immunity and international borders will not shield perpetrators from facing justice under United States federal law.
