Mali’s military government has detained about twenty soldiers — among them senior officers — over what authorities describe as a plan to overthrow President Assimi Goïta.
Security sources told AFP the arrests began three days ago and were linked to “an attempt to destabilise the institutions”. An army contact confirmed the detentions, saying simply: “We have gone ahead with the necessary arrests.”
A respected general in custody
One of the most prominent figures now in custody is General Abass Dembele, a well-regarded officer and former governor of the central Mopti region. A source close to him said troops arrived early Sunday morning in Kati, just outside Bamako, to take him away.
Political climate on edge
The arrests come at a tense moment for Mali, where the military seized power in a 2020 coup and tightened its hold after a second takeover in 2021. Elections have been repeatedly postponed, and in May the junta dissolved all political parties and banned public political gatherings — a move widely condemned by the opposition and civil society.
Reports of abductions, intimidation, and the targeting of political figures have deepened fears over shrinking freedoms. Observers warn that this latest wave of detentions could inflame tensions further, as the junta faces growing dissent at home and mounting pressure from abroad to restore civilian rule.
