Explainer: What we know about coup allegations rocking Mali’s military

In recent days, Mali has witnessed a wave of arrests targeting members of the country's armed forces, in what reports suggest is linked to an alleged plot to unseat military leader General Assimi Goita.

The arrests come amid Mali's ongoing political instability and persistent security challenges.

For more than 10 years, Mali has been locked in a brutal fight against armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIL, particularly in its northern regions.

The conflict, which began in 2012, has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands, with Human Rights Watch estimating that some 350,000 people have been displaced from their homes.

In 2020 and 2021, Goita, then a colonel, seized power in two military coups, promising to restore stability.

Since taking over as transitional president in 2021, he has ended military cooperation with France, prompting the withdrawal of French troops and turned to Russian forces, including Wagner Group and Africa Corps fighters, to combat the insurgency.

While daily life in the capital, Bamako, has largely continued, following the arrests, locals say a sense of nervousness hangs over the city.

Here's everything you need to know about the arrests:

Who was detained?

There are differing accounts of how many soldiers were arrested, but all indicate that at least two generals are among them. Some sources put the number over 50, while others place the figure between 36 and 40.

One of those detained is believed to be Abass Dembele, a former military governor of the northern Mopti region, who was reportedly taken from his home near Bamako on Sunday morning.

Known for his popularity among soldiers, Dembele played a prominent role in the 2012 northern conflict, when Tuareg separatists and armed groups seized much of Mali, prompting a French military intervention.

Another high-profile figure believed to be in custody is Air Force General Nema Sagara, one of Mali's few senior female officers and a respected military figure across West Africa.

Sagara, who made history by being drafted into combat during the 2013 civil war, is widely recognised for breaking gender barriers in Mali's armed forces.

These reports could not be independently verified by the Eastleigh Voice.

Other Topics To Read

• Mali
• political instability
• Bamako
• Moussa Mara
• General Assimi Goita
• Mali's military rulers
• Mali's insecurity
• Explainer: What we know about coup allegations rocking Mali’s military
• Africa

Military's silence & growing rivalries

Since news of the arrests broke over the weekend, Mali's military rulers have not issued an official statement.

Some officials have told multiple publications that the soldiers were detained for trying to "destabilise the transition," referring to the junta's pledge to one day hand power back to civilians.

Many of those detained are reportedly from the national guard, led by Defence Minister General Sadio Camara. Camara is increasingly viewed as a rival to Goita, even though both took part in the coup that brought the junta to power.

Observers say the arrests are a clear sign of growing divisions in the armed forces and possibly of Goita's weakening grip on the military

Tightening grip on power

Mali's military rulers have been tightening their grip on power, introducing new laws and cracking down on critics.

In July, the ruling junta passed a bill that would let leader Goita run for a five-year presidential term, with no limit on re-election and no need for an actual vote, a shift from an earlier promise to hand power back to civilians in 2024.

Earlier in May, the Junta similarly dissolved political parties and banned political gatherings to silence dissent, moves condemned by opposition figures and rights groups.

Prominent government critics have not been spared. Former Prime Minister Moussa Mara was arrested this month after visiting political prisoners and speaking out for their release.

Another ex-prime minister, Choguel Maiga, who once supported Goita, is also currently under investigation for alleged fraud after turning against the junta.

Conflict and insecurity fuel discontent

Mali's insecurity continues to fuel its political troubles, with armed groups such as JNIM still active in the north.

According to Human Rights Watch, the Malian army and its Russian allies have carried out unlawful attacks on civilians, accusing them without proof of collaborating with militants.

Since January, at least 12 Fulani men have been killed and 81 others have gone missing.

Earlier this year, Mali joined Burkina Faso and Niger in withdrawing from the West African bloc ECOWAS to form the Alliance of Sahel States, which has since created a 5,000-strong joint force to fight armed groups.

At the same time, Mali's army has reignited conflict with Tuareg separatists after Goita's government scrapped the peace deals that ended the 2012 war and gave Kidal limited self-rule, forcing hundreds to flee to Mauritania.