Dozens of soldiers in Mali have been arrested on accusations of conspiring to overthrow the military junta that has been in power since 2021. The arrests, which began overnight, have drawn attention to rising tensions within the military government, particularly as reports of jihadist groups gaining influence in northern regions continue to surface. Official authorities have yet to issue comments regarding the wave of detentions.
Initial reports suggest high-profile arrests, including Gen Abass Dembele, formerly the governor of the Mopti region, and Gen Nema Sagara, one of the few females in the upper echelons of the military. However, a source close to Gen Dembele has stated that he is safe and has not been detained.
According to news agency AFP, multiple military sources indicate that approximately 50 arrests have been linked to a scheme aimed at destabilizing government institutions. An unnamed lawmaker within the National Transition Council confirmed these details, adding that at least 20 soldiers were reported detained.
The situation is increasingly dire as political tensions rise, exacerbated by a recent crackdown on former Prime Ministers Moussa Mara and Choguel Maiga, who stand accused of harming the state's reputation. Mara, an outspoken critic of the military government, has been held since August, and Maiga is also confronting judicial challenges.
These episodes of instability precede last year's anticipated elections, which have yet to occur. The junta, led by Gen Asimi Goïta, who orchestrated two coups in 2020 and 2021, recently extended its transition period by five years, allowing him to remain in power until at least 2030.
Mali's struggle against Islamist insurgents, ongoing since 2012, continues to be cited as justification for the military's takeover, yet attacks from jihadist factions have surged. To combat this threat, the junta has sought assistance from Russian allies after severing traditional ties with France, though improvements in regional security have been elusive.
As these developments unfold, the future of Mali remains uncertain, with the balance of power within the military government increasingly fragile amid severe internal and external pressures.
