Mali’s military leader has dismissed three top commanders following failures in the country’s long-running campaign against militant insurgents. A cabinet report released on Wednesday confirmed that junta chief Assimi Goïta replaced the deputy general chief of staff, the head of military security, and the army’s ground forces commander.
A senior officer, speaking anonymously, said the dismissals were decided during an emergency defence council meeting on Tuesday “for poor results” on the battlefield. According to the source, the officers were accused of failing to anticipate and counter militant attacks, adding that some may face prosecution.
Mali has been trapped in a grinding conflict since 2012, when militants linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group spread chaos across the north before advancing southward. Goïta’s junta, which seized power in coups in 2020 and 2021, has struggled to restore stability despite breaking with Western allies and forging closer ties with Russia.
In recent months, Al-Qaeda-affiliated groups have intensified assaults along key supply routes, aiming to isolate the capital Bamako from the rest of the country. Since September, militant blockades have also disrupted fuel imports from neighbouring states, deepening economic hardship in the already landlocked nation. The latest purge underscores the junta’s growing frustration as it faces both a resilient insurgency and mounting pressure over its military strategy.