Mali coup plot: French man arrested over spying allegation
France, Mali's former colonial ruler, is also yet to comment on the man's arrest and allegations of destabilisation. The West African nation has been gripped by a security crisis fuelled by an Islamist insurgency since 2012 - one of the reasons given for the military takeover but attacks by jihadist groups have continued and even increased.Following days of speculation about the alleged coup plot, Gen Mohammedine confirmed that "fringe elements of the Malian armed security forces" had been detained for seeking to "destabilise the institutions of the republic"."These soldiers and civilians" were said to have obtained "the help of foreign states", the minister said.The French national acted "on behalf of the French intelligence service, which mobilised political leaders, civil society actors and military personnel" in Mali, the minister added. He also confirmed the arrest of two army generals, including Gen Abass Dembele, the former governor of the Mopti region, who was recently dismissed from his position. At least 55 soldiers have been arrested so far in connection with the alleged attempted coup, security sources told AFP. Gen Mohammedine said a full investigation was under way to identify "possible accomplices" and that "the situation is completely under control". Political tension has been rising in recent weeks, which have seen the arrest of former Prime Ministers Moussa Mara and Choguel Maïga over accusations of harming the reputation of the state and embezzlement.Mara, a recent outspoken critic of the military government, has been in detention since 1 August, while Maïga is facing judicial sanctions.In May, the junta dissolved all political parties following rare anti-government protests, which Mara described as a severe blow to reconciliation efforts initiated by the military leaders last year.Junta leader Gen Asimi Goïta, who seized power in both 2020 and 2021, had promised elections last year, but these have never been held.In July, the transition period was extended by five years, clearing him to continue leading the country until at least 2030.Alongside its neighbours Niger and Burkina Faso, it has enlisted the help of Russian allies to contain the jihadist attacks in the region after breaking ties with France - but there has been no significant improvements in security.
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Paul Smith, the owner of Chifuti Safaris, said at the time: 'It turned on him and attacked him and unfortunately the apprentice hunter with him could not shoot the animal as Owen's body was in the way. 'It was a very tough fight. Owain's neck was broken, but the apprentice did manage to kill the buffalo. We are very shocked. This is the first time we have had an incident like this. 'We have had so many messages of support from people who hunted with Owen. It is a tragedy.' He worked as a hunter on the private game reserve, but had owned his own ranch before it was confiscated by authorities in 2001. Mauled by lions In 2015, South African Matome Mahlale was among a group of five young men illegally hunting with dogs when disaster struck. The 24-year-old and his accomplices were confronted by two lions who came charging at them. While three of the men were able to cling to their lives by climbing up trees, another managed to escape. But Mahlale was not so lucky - he and two of the dogs were mauled to death by the lions. In the aftermath, the three men who survived the attack were not charged by the Limpopo Province police. Three years later, in 2018, a suspected poacher was eaten alive by lions near the Kruger National Park in South Africa. The attack was so gruesome that only his head remained, according to the police. A spokesperson said: 'It seems the victim was poaching in the game park when he was attacked and killed by lions.' 'They ate his body, nearly all of it, and just left his head and some remains.' A loaded gun and ammunition were found next to the man's remains, according to local media reports. In 2019, officials in South Africa described how a suspected poacher who was hunting rhinos was killed by an elephant and then eaten by lions. His remains were found in the Crocodile Bridge at the Kruger National Park. Trampled to death In August 2017, Jose Monzalves, an Argentinian hunter, was trampled to death by the very elephant he was trying to shoot in Namibia. The 46-year-old was on a hunting tour in a small town outside Karkfield when the incident occurred. According to local reports, the beast charged at the group Monzalves was with, catching them by surprise and leaving them no time to set up their weapons. He was with another Argentine and three Namibians when they were set upon by the animals. After his death, police said Monzalves, who was well known as a trophy hunter and worked for an oil company, had a hunting permit.
