Dozens of soldiers have been detained in Mali over an alleged plot to overthrow the ruling junta, multiple military and political sources told media on Sunday, in the latest sign of deepening divisions within the military-led government.
The arrests, which began several days ago and continued overnight, target members of the armed forces accused of planning to “destabilise the institutions,” according to sources cited by AFP. A lawmaker in the junta-backed transitional council told AFP that about 50 soldiers were detained, while a security source put the number at more than 20.
Initial reports claimed that former Mopti governor Gen Abass Dembele and Gen Nema Sagara, one of the few women in Mali’s senior military ranks, were among those arrested. However, a source close to Dembele denied this, telling the BBC the general was “doing well” and had not been detained.
Authorities have not commented publicly on the arrests, which come amid growing political tension. The junta has recently moved against two former prime ministers, Moussa Mara and Choguel Maiga, on charges ranging from harming the state’s reputation to embezzlement. Mara, a vocal critic, has been held since Aug. 1, while Maiga faces judicial sanctions.
The crackdown follows the dissolution of all political parties in May, a move that drew rare street protests and, critics say, undermined last year’s reconciliation initiative.
Junta leader Gen Assimi Goïta, who took power in coups in 2020 and 2021, had promised elections last year but postponed them. In July, the transition period was extended by five years, allowing him to remain in office until at least 2030.
Mali has battled a jihadist insurgency since 2012 — one of the junta’s stated justifications for seizing power — but attacks have escalated despite military support from Russian allies after cutting security ties with France.
