Authorities in Mali have detained around 20 soldiers suspected of plotting to overthrow the ruling junta, which itself came to power through a coup. A Malian security source confirmed the arrests, stating, “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 separate army source also acknowledged the alleged plot, describing it as an “attempt at destabilisation” and confirming that “we have gone ahead with the necessary arrests.”
Who Was Among Those Arrested?
One of the most notable figures taken into custody is General Abass Dembele, a former governor of the central Mopti region and a respected military officer. According to a person close to Dembele, “Soldiers came early this morning (Sunday) to arrest General Abass Dembele in Kati,” a town near the capital, Bamako. “They have not told him why he was arrested,” the source added.
The arrests mark a new twist in Mali’s already volatile political climate. The junta, led by military officers who seized power in 2021, has faced mounting domestic and international pressure to restore civilian rule.
A Country in Crisis
Mali has been gripped by instability since 2012, with armed groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State carrying out deadly attacks across the Sahel region. Beyond the security crisis, the country is battling widespread criminal activity, sectarian violence, and an economy under severe strain.
The latest arrests raise fresh questions about the unity within Mali’s military leadership and the country’s fragile political future.
By Risper Akinyi