A Frenchman was arrested for spying allegations

Mali’s military leaders say they have arrested a French national suspected of espionage for his country to try to destabilize the African nation.

In a statement read on national television Thursday evening, the Junta alleged that Yann Vezilier was working “in the name of the French intelligence service”. Mr. Vezilier has not yet commented on the accusation.

His photo was also broadcast, alongside those of a number of army generals, recently arrested for having pretended to overthrow the military government.

“The conspiracy was thwarted the arrests of the people involved,” said Mali Minister of Mali Gen Daoud Aly Mohammedine in the television address.

France, the former colonial leader of Mali, has not yet commented on the arrest and the allegations of destabilization of man.

The West African nation has been seized by a security crisis fueled by an Islamist insurrection since 2012 – one of the reasons taken for military control, but the attacks on jihadist groups continued and even increased.

After days of speculation on the alleged couplio plot, General Mohammedine confirmed that the “marginal elements of the Malian armed security forces” had been detained for “destabilizing the institutions of the Republic”.

“These soldiers and civilians” would have obtained “the aid of foreign states,” said the minister.

The French national acted “on behalf of the French intelligence service, which mobilized political leaders, actors in civil society and military staff” in Mali, added the minister.

He also confirmed the arrest of two army generals, including General Abass Dembele, the former governor of the Mopti region, who was recently dismissed from his post.

Until now, at least 55 soldiers have been arrested in connection with the alleged coup attempt, security sources for AFP told AFP.

General Mohammedine said that a full investigation was underway to identify the “possible accomplices” and that “the situation is completely controlled”.

Political tension has increased in recent weeks, which has seen the arrest of former prime ministers Moussa Mara and Choguel Maïga for accusations of harming the reputation of the state and a embezzlement.

Mara, a recent frank critic of the military government, has been in detention since August 1, while Maïga faces judicial sanctions.

In May, the junta dissolved all political parties following rare antigan demonstrations, which Mara described as a blow for reconciliation efforts initiated by military leaders last year.

The chief of the Junta, Gen Asimi Goïta, who took power in 2020 and 2021, had promised elections last year, but they never took place.

In July, the transition period was extended by five years, which eliminated him to continue directing the country until at least 2030.

In addition to his neighbors, Niger and Burkina Faso, he called on Russian allies to contain jihadist attacks in the region after having broken the links with France – but there was no significant improvement in security.