Authorities in Mali have arrested approximately 20 military personnel over an alleged plot to overthrow the country’s ruling junta, which itself came to power via a coup.
According to sources cited by AFP, the arrests were carried out over the past three days as part of a crackdown on what officials describe as an “attempt to destabilise the institutions” of the state.
“Since three days ago, there have been arrests linked to an attempt to destabilise the institutions. There have been at least around 20 arrests,” a Malian security source told AFP.
Another source within the military confirmed that an attempted insurrection had been uncovered.
“We have gone ahead with the necessary arrests,” the source said.
Among those detained is General Abass Dembele, a respected senior officer and former governor of the Mopti region in central Mali.
A close associate of the general revealed that he was picked up early Sunday morning in Kati, a town just outside the capital Bamako.
“Soldiers came early this morning (Sunday) to arrest General Abass Dembele in Kati. They have not told him why he was arrested,” the source said.
This development comes amid a backdrop of political turbulence in Mali, where the current leadership, headed by Colonel Assimi Goita, seized power in a 2021 coup.
In July 2025, Goita approved a controversial law granting him an unlimited mandate, drawing both domestic and international criticism.
Mali has faced compounded challenges since 2012, including a spiraling security crisis fueled by jihadist insurgencies linked to Al-Qaeda and Islamic State affiliates.
The country also continues to grapple with intercommunal violence, organized crime, and a deteriorating economy.
The junta has not yet issued an official statement on the alleged coup plot or the arrests.
