Tensions Escalate in Mali as Dozens of Soldiers Arrested Over Alleged Coup Plot
By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News

Mali’s fragile political stability is once again under strain as dozens of soldiers have reportedly been arrested in connection with an alleged plot to overthrow the country’s military leadership. According to multiple security and political sources, the arrests — which began overnight and are expected to continue — point to growing tensions within the ruling junta, already under pressure from a resurgent jihadist insurgency in the north.

While the Malian authorities have yet to issue an official statement, reports from Bamako and other parts of the country suggest that the detentions are part of a broad sweep aimed at neutralising what the junta views as an internal security threat. Initial rumours claimed that Gen Abass Dembele, the former governor of the Mopti region, and Gen Nema Sagara, one of the highest-ranking women in the Malian armed forces, were among those detained. However, a source close to Gen Dembele told the BBC that both generals remain free, adding that he had just visited Dembele at his home and found him “doing well.”

The AFP news agency, citing sources within the military and the junta-backed National Transition Council, reported that those detained are all serving soldiers allegedly working to destabilise the government. An unnamed lawmaker told AFP: “All are soldiers. Their objective was to overthrow the junta.” He claimed that about 50 arrests have been made so far, while another security source put the figure at “at least 20,” describing the detentions as linked to “attempts to destabilise the institutions.”

These arrests have reportedly taken place over several days and coincide with an increasingly volatile political atmosphere. In recent weeks, the junta has intensified its crackdown on critics, including former Prime Ministers Moussa Mara and Choguel Maiga. Mara, a vocal opponent of the military government, was arrested on 1 August over allegations of damaging the state’s reputation and misappropriating funds. Maiga, who once served as an ally to the junta, is also facing judicial sanctions.

In May, the junta dissolved all political parties following rare anti-government protests — a move widely criticised as a severe blow to national reconciliation efforts. Mara himself had condemned the dissolution, warning it would undermine dialogue and unity in the already fractured nation.

Mali’s current leader, Gen Asimi Goïta, seized power through two coups in 2020 and 2021, promising to restore civilian rule and hold democratic elections. Those elections, initially scheduled for last year, never took place. Instead, in July, the junta extended the transition period by an additional five years, effectively keeping Goïta in power until at least 2030.

The arrests come against the backdrop of a deepening security crisis. Since 2012, Mali has been battling a brutal Islamist insurgency — the very justification used by the military to seize power. However, attacks by jihadist groups have not only continued but, according to observers, have intensified. The junta, along with its regional allies Niger and Burkina Faso, has turned to Russian military support after severing longstanding defence ties with France. Despite the presence of Russian forces, security improvements remain elusive.

The latest developments raise concerns about both political stability and military cohesion in Mali. Analysts warn that with the country facing mounting insurgent threats, any significant rift within the armed forces could further weaken its capacity to respond, potentially plunging Mali deeper into crisis.

Akahi News http://www.akahinews.org