Mali Arrests Dozens of Soldiers Over Alleged Coup Plot

Malian authorities have arrested dozens of soldiers accused of conspiring to topple the military-led government, sources told the BBC. The wave of detentions, which began several days ago and continued overnight, is expected to expand.

Reports initially claimed that high-ranking officers, including former Mopti governor Gen Abass Dembele and senior army figure Gen Nema Sagara, were among those detained. However, a source close to Gen Dembele denied this, saying he had spoken to the general, who was “doing well.”

AFP cited military and transitional council sources saying the detained soldiers were plotting to overthrow the junta. Estimates of those arrested range from at least 20 to about 50.

Political Crackdown and Rising Instability

The arrests come against a backdrop of mounting political friction. Former prime ministers Moussa Mara and Choguel Maiga have faced prosecution — Mara for “harming the reputation of the state” and Maiga for alleged embezzlement. Mara, a vocal critic of the junta, has been detained since 1 August.

In May, the junta dissolved all political parties after rare anti-government protests, a move critics say undermines national reconciliation efforts.

Junta’s Hold on Power

Colonel Assimi Goïta, who seized power in coups in 2020 and 2021, has postponed elections promised last year. In July, the transitional period was extended by five years, allowing him to remain in power until at least 2030.

Mali’s military government cites the country’s ongoing Islamist insurgency, which began in 2012, as justification for its grip on power. Despite enlisting Russian support after cutting ties with France, the security situation has not improved, with jihadist groups gaining ground in the north.