Mali’s military Government announced on 14 August 2025 that it has thwarted a coup plot intended to undermine the country’s political Transition.
Government spokesperson Abdoulaye Maiga said the conspiracy, allegedly backed by a foreign State, was uncovered and neutralised with the arrests of Gen. Abbass Dembele, Brig. Gen. Naima Sagara, and a French national, Yann Vezilier, suspected of working for French intelligence.
The junta condemned the attempt as a “subversive act,” assured the public that stability has been maintained, and launched judicial investigations to identify further accomplices. The arrests followed unverified reports that dozens of soldiers were detained over a bid to depose the ruling military Council.
This development comes amid Mali’s ongoing political turbulence, with coups in 2020 and 2021 paving the way for the current junta’s rule. The government has previously claimed to foil other coup attempts, including one in 2022 it said was supported by a Western nation. The latest incident underscores persistent tensions between the junta and both internal and external actors, as Mali distances itself from France, strengthens ties with Russia, and continues to face threats from jihadist insurgencies and domestic unrest.