Mali arrests 20 military personnel over alleged coup plot amid political unrest

Malian authorities have arrested around 20 military personnel suspected of planning a coup against the current ruling junta.

Reports indicate that these detainees were apprehended over the past three days as part of an operation to thwart what officials described as a plot aimed at destabilising the government.

Among those arrested is General Abass Dembele, a former governor of the Mopti region and a respected army figure. He was reportedly taken into custody early Sunday at his residence in Kati without any explanation.

According to AFP, a senior security official justified the arrests as necessary to protect the country’s institutions from destabilisation.

“Since three days ago, there have been arrests linked to an attempt to destabilise the institutions. There have been at least 20 arrests,” the official said.

Another military insider confirmed the existence of the alleged conspiracy and stressed the need for swift action to maintain order.

“We have gone ahead with the necessary arrests,” he said.

Mali’s military government first took power in 2020 when Colonel Assimi Goita led a coup. In May 2021, Goita staged a second coup, removing the designated civilian president and declaring himself head of state.

In 2022, when the transition period was due to end, the military leader postponed elections and announced a new plan to extend the transition by five years.

Support for Goita remained relatively strong but has recently started to wane. On May 3, hundreds of Malians protested in Bamako against the military government.

The protests were sparked by government proposals suggesting Goita could remain in power until 2030 and that political parties should be dissolved. Many Malians are frustrated because the military promised stability and democracy but has instead extended its rule without delivering meaningful change.

In response, the government suspended all political parties, citing concerns over public order.