Malian authorities have detained around 20 soldiers accused of plotting to overthrow the ruling junta, which itself came to power through a coup, security sources told AFP on Sunday.
A Malian security official said the arrests, carried out over the past three days, were linked to “an attempt to destabilise the institutions.” Another army source confirmed the alleged plot and said the detentions were a necessary step to safeguard the state.
Among those taken into custody was General Abass Dembele, a former governor of the central Mopti region and a widely respected officer. A source close to the general said troops arrived early on Sunday in Kati, near the capital Bamako, to detain him without providing a reason.
Mali has faced persistent instability since 2012, marked by insurgencies from militants affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, widespread criminal and sectarian violence, and a struggling economy. The current junta seized power in 2020 and has since tightened its grip, despite international pressure to return the country to civilian rule.
