Dozens of soldiers in Mali have been detained on allegations of plotting to overthrow the country’s military Government, according to multiple sources.
Reports suggest the arrests, which began several days ago and continued overnight, are part of a sweeping operation within the Armed forces, though the authorities have made no official comment.
Initial claims that senior figures such as Gen Abass Dembele and Gen Nema Sagara were among those detained have been denied by sources close to the generals, though the wave of arrests appears linked to attempts to “destabilise the institutions,” according to security and political insiders.
The alleged coup plot comes against a backdrop of mounting political pressure on the junta, which has been criticised for delaying promised elections and consolidating its hold on power. Former Prime Ministers Moussa Mara and Choguel Maiga have faced legal action in recent weeks, with Mara detained since 1 August and Maiga under judicial scrutiny. The military government, led by Gen Assimi Goïta since seizing power in coups in 2020 and 2021, dissolved all political parties in May after rare protests, effectively curtailing organised political opposition. The transition period was controversially extended in July, allowing Goïta to remain in power until at least 2030.
The unrest also reflects worsening insecurity in northern Mali, where jihadist insurgents have been gaining ground despite the junta’s alliance with Russian partners and regional cooperation with Niger and Burkina Faso. Since 2012, Islamist violence has persisted as a major challenge, undermining one of the central justifications for military rule. The ongoing instability, combined with internal dissent within the armed forces, underscores the fragility of the current political order and the uncertainty surrounding Mali’s democratic future.