Malian security forces have arrested dozens of soldiers suspected of plotting to overthrow the ruling military junta, according to multiple security and military sources. The arrests, which reportedly began several days ago, are being described as a measure to counter a “destabilisation attempt.”
The arrests have sparked new concerns about the stability of the West African nation, which has been under military rule since back-to-back coups in 2020 and 2021. The political turmoil has been compounded by a persistent insurgency from groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, as well as economic hardship.
Among those detained is General Abass Dembele, a respected officer and former governor of the central Mopti region. A source close to the general stated that soldiers arrived at his home in Kati, a military stronghold near the capital, and arrested him without providing a reason.
While official details remain scarce, a member of the junta-backed National Transition Council claimed that up to 50 soldiers had been arrested, all with the objective of toppling the current leadership. The arrests come a month after the military-appointed legislature passed a law granting junta leader General Assimi Goita a renewable five-year presidential mandate.
Sociologist Oumar Maiga commented that the arrests signal “grumblings within the army’s ranks” and suggest that the officers are struggling to maintain control. Maiga noted that some soldiers may resent the junta’s close ties with Russian mercenaries, who are perceived to receive preferential treatment over Malian troops. Despite the alliance with Russia’s Wagner Group and its successor, Africa Corps, the country continues to struggle to contain the ongoing insurgency.
