Wave of arrests in Mali targets soldiers accused of plotting against junta leader

Mali's complicated political terrain has been jolted once more with the alleged arrest of several dozen soldiers, including two high-ranking generals, over the weekend.

• Allegations emerged of a coup attempt in Mali, resulting in the arrest of several military personnel, including high-ranking officials.
• The arrests highlight deepening tensions within Mali's junta led by General Assimi Goïta.
• The military administration has yet to provide an official statement regarding these detentions.

The arrests were tied to an apparent coup attempt to destabilize the institutions of the Sahel nation.

According to security and political sources, the arrests were carried out in a massive nighttime operation targeting troops accused of attempting to depose Mali's military leadership.

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The detentions are anticipated to continue in the coming days, highlighting growing internal tensions within the junta.

"Since three days ago, there have been arrests linked to an attempt to destabilise the institutions. There have been at least around 20 arrests," a Malian security source told AFP.

Another source within the Malian army spoke of an "attempt at destabilisation", adding: "We have gone ahead with the necessary arrests".

Gen Abass Dembele, the former governor of the Mopti area, and Gen Nema Sagara, one of the few women to reach the highest levels of the Malian army, are among those purportedly detained.

A BBC source, however, debunked the claim, noting that the generals in question may not have been apprehended.

The military administration has yet to release a formal statement regarding the arrests.

Mali’s recent political landscape

Mali's current administration, commanded by General Assimi Goïta, took power through successive coups in 2020 and 2021, removing the previous civilian-led government amid growing unhappiness with instability.

Relations with France, Mali's former colonial ruler, deteriorated as the junta accused Paris of failing to adequately combat Islamist organizations.

Bamako made a strategic shift, turning to new friends, most notably Russia.

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The contentious deployment of Russian paramilitary soldiers, initially through the Wagner Group and now through its replacement, the Africa Corps, has aided the army's counterinsurgency operations while also drawing condemnation from Western countries and human rights organizations.

Very recently, Mali’s transitional parliament approved a contentious bill granting Goïta a five-year presidential term, renewable without the need for elections.

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