Mali’s military leadership says it has confirmed it foiled a coup attempt, detaining two senior generals and a French national accused of acting as a foreign agent.

Security Minister General Daoud Aly Mohammedine confirmed the arrests in a statement, adding that dozens of soldiers had also been taken into custody in recent days. Rumours of such detentions had been circulating in the West African nation for several days before the announcement.

Mohammedine alleged that the group, which included both military officers and civilians, had external backing and sought to destabilize the country. He claimed the French national was suspected of “acting on behalf of the French intelligence service, which mobilized political leaders, civil society actors and military personnel” in Mali.

The junta, which seized power through back-to-back coups in 2020 and 2021, offered few additional details about the alleged plot or the Frenchman’s role. France, Mali’s former colonial ruler, has yet to comment on the arrest publicly.

Among those detained is General Abass Dembele, a popular figure among Malian troops and former governor of the central Mopti region. Dembele was dismissed in May after demanding an investigation into allegations that the Malian army killed civilians during a military operation in Diafarabe.

Crackdown On Dissent Intensifies

The arrests come amid an escalating crackdown on dissent following a pro-democracy rally in May, the first of its kind since soldiers took power nearly four years ago. Analysts say the move reflects the junta’s intent to stifle growing unrest.

Rida Lyammouri, an analyst at the Morocco-based Policy Center for the New South, said that Mali’s military leadership is acutely aware of public and internal discontent.

“The military leaders are simply not willing to let those grievances build into something more, like a coup, and therefore these arrests seem more of a way to intimidate than a legitimate coup attempt.

“It’s a continuation of the repeated unjustified arrests and prosecution of anyone speaking against the current regime.”
Rida Lyammouri

In July, military leader General Assimi Goita was granted a five-year presidential term, renewable indefinitely. The decision marked a reversal of earlier commitments to restore civilian rule by March 2024.

In May, the junta dissolved all political parties. Goita later withdrew Mali from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) after the bloc pressed for a return to democratic governance.

Separate Arrests Target Former Prime Ministers

In a separate development, former civilian prime minister Choguel Maiga and several of his former government colleagues were arrested on Tuesday. Authorities say the detentions are linked to an investigation into “misappropriation of public funds.”

Maiga, appointed in 2021, was removed from office in late 2024 after openly criticizing the military government, a stance he continued to hold after his dismissal.

Earlier in August, another former prime minister, Moussa Mara, was detained on accusations of undermining the credibility of the state. Mara had previously posted a message on social media expressing his “unwavering solidarity with prisoners of conscience” detained by the junta.

Observers say the arrests of both former prime ministers are emblematic of the military’s broader effort to consolidate power by sidelining critics and suppressing dissent.

Mali’s current leadership has increasingly distanced itself from traditional Western allies, particularly France, and has deepened political and military ties with Russia, citing national sovereignty as the driving motive.

The junta’s tightening grip and the latest alleged coup plot underline the volatile political climate in Mali, where questions about governance, civil liberties, and the future of democratic rule remain far from resolved.