Mali stops dozens of soldiers on an alleged attempted coup against Junta

Dozens of soldiers were arrested in Mali accused of having plotted to overthrow the country’s military leaders, according to sources.

The wave of arrests, which would have continued at night and should continue, reflects increased tensions within the military government, with information that a jihadist insurrection in the north is gaining ground. The authorities did not comment on the arrests.

The first reports indicated that Gen Abass Dembele, the former governor of the region of Mopti and Gen Nema Sagara, one of the rare women at the highest levels in the Malian army, were one of the detained people.

However, a source close to Gen Dembele told the BBC that none of them had been arrested.

The source, which confirmed the arrests in progress, told a BBC journalist in Bamako that he had just left Gen Dembele house and that he “was fine”.

The AFP news agency said that the detained soldiers planned to overthrow the government, citing several sources on the Transitional Council supported by soldiers and Junta.

“All are soldiers. Their goal was to overthrow the junta,” said anonymous legislator of the National Transitional Council.

He said there had been around “50 arrests”, while a security source said there had been at least 20 arrests, linked to “attempts to destabilize institutions,” said AFP.

The arrests would have lasted for several days.

They come in the midst of political tensions increased by the junta’s repression against the former Prime Ministers Moussa Mara and Choguel Maiga for accusations of harming the reputation of the state and a diversion.

Mara, a recent frank critic of the military government, has been in detention since August 1, while Maiga 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 through two coups 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.

Mali has been fighting an Islamist insurrection since 2012 – one of the reasons taken for military control, but the attacks on jihadist groups have continued and even increased.

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.