Latest news with #AbassDembele
Business Insider
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Insider
Wave of arrests in Mali targets soldiers accused of plotting against junta leader
Mali's complicated political terrain has been jolted once more with the alleged arrest of several dozen soldiers, including two high-ranking generals, over the weekend. Allegations emerged of a coup attempt in Mali, resulting in the arrest of several military personnel, including high-ranking officials. The arrests highlight deepening tensions within Mali's junta led by General Assimi Goïta. The military administration has yet to provide an official statement regarding these detentions. The arrests were tied to an apparent coup attempt to destabilize the institutions of the Sahel nation. According to security and political sources, the arrests were carried out in a massive nighttime operation targeting troops accused of attempting to depose Mali's military leadership. The detentions are anticipated to continue in the coming days, highlighting growing internal tensions within the junta. "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 Malian army spoke of an "attempt at destabilisation", adding: "We have gone ahead with the necessary arrests". Gen Abass Dembele, the former governor of the Mopti area, and Gen Nema Sagara, one of the few women to reach the highest levels of the Malian army, are among those purportedly detained. A BBC source, however, debunked the claim, noting that the generals in question may not have been apprehended. The military administration has yet to release a formal statement regarding the arrests. Mali's recent political landscape Mali's current administration, commanded by General Assimi Goïta, took power through successive coups in 2020 and 2021, removing the previous civilian-led government amid growing unhappiness with instability. Relations with France, Mali's former colonial ruler, deteriorated as the junta accused Paris of failing to adequately combat Islamist organizations. Bamako made a strategic shift, turning to new friends, most notably Russia. The contentious deployment of Russian paramilitary soldiers, initially through the Wagner Group and now through its replacement, the Africa Corps, has aided the army's counterinsurgency operations while also drawing condemnation from Western countries and human rights organizations.
Reuters
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Mali arrests dozens in military who posed threat to government, sources say
BAMAKO, Aug 11 (Reuters) - Mali has arrested more than 30 soldiers and military officials accused of attempting to destabilise the government, two sources said, a sign of internal tensions as the West African nation's leaders take steps to strengthen their hold on power. The arrests have unfolded over multiple days and have targeted several senior officials including General Abass Dembele, former governor of the central Mopti region, said a Malian security source who put the total number of arrests at 36. Mali's military leaders took power after coups in 2020 and 2021, vowing to restore security in a country where militant groups control large areas of the north and centre and stage frequent attacks on the army and civilians. In April, a national conference recommended naming General Assimi Goita, who became interim leader in 2021, as president with a five-year mandate, as well as dissolving all political parties. The move spurred rare protests in the capital Bamako in early May, and the junta responded by suspending political activities across the country. A second source in the government said 40 people had been arrested over recent days. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive security operations. They said they could not provide details on the specific allegations against the arrested officials. Neither the government nor the military has commented on the arrests, and spokespersons for both did not respond to requests for comment. Last month, authorities formally approved Goita's five-year term and said it could be renewed as many times as necessary. Security woes have persisted under Goita, and the past few months have seen a surge of deadly attacks by Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda-linked group that also operates in Burkina Faso and Niger. Analysts say the group's battlefield tactics have grown increasingly sophisticated and that it has amassed substantial resources through raids on military posts, cattle rustling, hijacking of goods, kidnappings and taxes on local communities. Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have cut ties with Western nations since military takeovers, turning instead to Russia for support.
Saudi Gazette
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Dozens of Malian soldiers arrested over alleged coup plot
BAMAKO — Dozens of soldiers have been arrested in Mali accused of plotting to topBple the country's military leaders, sources say. The wave of arrests, which reportedly went on overnight and are expected to continue, reflect increased tensions within the military government, with reports that an insurgency in the north is gaining ground. The authorities have not commented on the arrests. Initial reports indicated that Gen Abass Dembele, the former governor of the Mopti region and Gen Nema Sagara, one of the few women at the highest levels of the Malian army, were among those detained. However, a source close to Gen Dembele told the BBC that neither of them had been arrested. The source, who confirmed the ongoing arrests, told a BBC reporter in Bamako that he had just left Gen Dembele's house and he was "doing well". The AFP news agency reported that the detained soldiers were allegedly planning to overthrow the government, citing multiple sources within the military and junta-backed transitional council."All are soldiers. Their objective was to overthrow the junta," it quoted an unnamed lawmaker in the National Transition Council as said there had been about "50 arrests", while a security source said there were at least 20 arrests, linked to "attempts to destabilise the institutions," AFP arrests have reportedly been going on over a number of come amid political tension heightened by the junta's crackdown on former Prime Ministers Moussa Mara and Choguel Maiga over accusations of harming the reputation of the state and a recent outspoken critic of the military government, has been in detention since 1 August, while Maiga is facing judicial 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 junta leader Gen Asimi Goïta, who seized power through two coups in 2020 and 2021, had promised elections last year, but these have never been July, the transition period was extended by five years, clearing him to continue leading the country until at least has been fighting an Islamist insurgency since 2012 — one of the reasons given for the military takeover but attacks by jihadist groups have continued and even 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. — BBC
BBC News
15 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Mali arrests dozens of soldiers over alleged coup attempt against junta
Dozens of soldiers have been arrested in Mali accused of plotting to topple the country's military leaders, sources wave of arrests, which reportedly went on overnight and are expected to continue, reflect increased tensions within the military government, with reports that a jihadist insurgency in the north is gaining ground. The authorities have not commented on the reports indicated that Gen Abass Dembele, the former governor of the Mopti region and Gen Nema Sagara, one of the few women at the highest levels of the Malian army, were among those a source close to Gen Dembele told the BBC that neither of them had been arrested. The source, who confirmed the ongoing arrests, told a BBC reporter in Bamako that he had just left Gen Dembele's house and he was "doing well".The AFP news agency reported that the detained soldiers were allegedly planning to overthrow the government, citing multiple sources within the military and junta-backed transitional council."All are soldiers. Their objective was to overthrow the junta," it quoted an unnamed lawmaker in the National Transition Council as said there had been about "50 arrests", while a security source said there were at least 20 arrests, linked to "attempts to destabilise the institutions," AFP arrests have reportedly been going on over a number of come amid political tension heightened by the junta's crackdown on former Prime Ministers Moussa Mara and Choguel Maiga over accusations of harming the reputation of the state and a recent outspoken critic of the military government, has been in detention since 1 August, while Maiga is facing judicial 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 junta leader Gen Asimi Goïta, who seized power through two coups in 2020 and 2021, had promised elections last year, but these have never been July, the transition period was extended by five years, clearing him to continue leading the country until at least has been fighting an Islamist insurgency since 2012 - one of the reasons given for the military takeover but attacks by jihadist groups have continued and even 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. You may also be interested in: The region with more 'terror deaths' than rest of world combinedWhy young Africans are celebrating military takeoversThree military-run states leave West African bloc - what will change?Mali coup leader granted five-year term in powerMali signs trade deal with Russia as ties strengthen Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
The Star
16 hours ago
- Politics
- The Star
Mali arrests dozens in military who posed threat to government, sources say
BAMAKO (Reuters) -Mali has arrested more than 30 soldiers and military officials accused of attempting to destabilise the government, two sources said, a sign of internal tensions as the West African nation's leaders take steps to strengthen their hold on power. The arrests have unfolded over multiple days and have targeted several senior officials including General Abass Dembele, former governor of the central Mopti region, said a Malian security source who put the total number of arrests at 36. Mali's military leaders took power after coups in 2020 and 2021, vowing to restore security in a country where militant groups control large areas of the north and centre and stage frequent attacks on the army and civilians. In April, a national conference recommended naming General Assimi Goita, who became interim leader in 2021, as president with a five-year mandate, as well as dissolving all political parties. The move spurred rare protests in the capital Bamako in early May, and the junta responded by suspending political activities across the country. A second source in the government said 40 people had been arrested over recent days. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive security operations. They said they could not provide details on the specific allegations against the arrested officials. Neither the government nor the military has commented on the arrests, and spokespersons for both did not respond to requests for comment. Last month, authorities formally approved Goita's five-year term and said it could be renewed as many times as necessary. Security woes have persisted under Goita, and the past few months have seen a surge of deadly attacks by Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda-linked group that also operates in Burkina Faso and Niger. Analysts say the group's battlefield tactics have grown increasingly sophisticated and that it has amassed substantial resources through raids on military posts, cattle rustling, hijacking of goods, kidnappings and taxes on local communities. Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have cut ties with Western nations since military takeovers, turning instead to Russia for support. (Reporting by Mali newsroom; Writing by Robbie Corey-Boulet; Editing by Aidan Lewis)
