Authorities in Mali announced on Thursday that a French national had been arrested on suspicion of working for French intelligence services. The ruling junta, which came to power after two coups, also said dozens of soldiers were recently detained for allegedly seeking to overthrow the government.
In a statement read on national television, the Malian military accused “fringe elements” of obtaining the help of “foreign states” to cause instability. Security sources informed reporters that at least 55 soldiers were arrested, and the government is now working to identify any possible accomplices.
The junta confirmed the arrest of two generals, including Abbas Dembele, a respected military figure and former governor recently dismissed from his position. On Tuesday, Mali’s civilian former prime minister, Choguel Maiga, was taken into custody as part of a probe into “misappropriation of public funds.”
Maiga, a former junta heavyweight, was appointed prime minister in 2021 before being dismissed late last year after criticizing the military government. He had openly criticized his exclusion from decisions regarding the continued leadership of the generals, who had initially promised to hand power back to civilians.
There has been no connection made between his arrest and those of the soldiers accused of seeking to overthrow the current government. The junta, led by President Assimi Goita, has turned away from former colonial power France to align itself politically and militarily with Russia.
Impoverished Mali has been gripped by a persistent security crisis since 2012, fueled by groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State terrorist group. The Malian army and its Russian mercenary allies have been tasked with hunting down these militants and are regularly accused of committing abuses against civilians.