France has confirmed that a citizen arrested in Mali over allegations of involvement in a coup attempt is a staff member of its embassy in Bamako. The French Foreign Ministry declared that the accusations against the individual, named by Malian officials as Yann Vezilier, were “unfounded.” Paris said it has formally contacted Malian authorities to demand his immediate release. The detention, which occurred earlier this month, came as part of a wider crackdown in which two generals and other senior military officers were also arrested on suspicion of planning to overthrow the ruling junta.

According to Mali’s transitional authorities, security forces uncovered a plot aimed at destabilizing the military leadership, which has governed the country since the 2020 coup. Officials announced the arrest of two generals, several mid-ranking officers, and the French national, claiming the group had conspired to undermine state security. No evidence of the alleged plot has been publicly presented, but authorities have maintained that the arrests were necessary to protect the country’s stability. The incident comes amid heightened tensions in Mali, where the ruling junta has repeatedly accused external actors of interfering in its internal affairs.

The French Foreign Ministry strongly denied the allegations, emphasizing that its embassy staff member was carrying out legitimate diplomatic duties. “The accusations are baseless, and his detention is unjustified,” the ministry said, adding that it is seeking immediate consular access and has summoned Malian representatives in Paris to explain the arrest. The case threatens to exacerbate already strained relations between France and Mali, which have deteriorated sharply since the expulsion of French troops in 2022 and Bamako’s decision to deepen security ties with Russia. Analysts note that the incident could further isolate Mali diplomatically while complicating France’s already reduced presence in the Sahel region.