Latest news with #MalianArmy
Al Jazeera
4 days ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Mali's military arrests generals, suspected French agent in overthrow plot
Authorities in Mali have arrested a group of military personnel and civilians, including two Malian army generals and a suspected French secret agent, accused of attempting to destabilise the country. Mali's security minister, General Daoud Aly Mohammedine, announced the arrests on Thursday evening following days of rumours that Malian military officials had been arrested. The minister said, 'The situation is completely under control.' 'The transitional government informs the national public of the arrest of a small group of marginal elements of the Malian armed and security forces for criminal offences aimed at destabilising the institutions of the republic,' Mohammedine said on national news. 'The conspiracy has been foiled with the arrests of those involved,' he said, adding that the plot began on August 1. 'These soldiers and civilians' had obtained 'the help of foreign states', Mali's military said in a statement, adding that a French national – identified as Yann Christian Bernard Vezilier – was held on suspicion of working 'on behalf of the French intelligence service'. The security minister said the Frenchman acted 'on behalf of the French intelligence service, which mobilised political leaders, civil society actors and military personnel' in Mali. Images shared on social media of the alleged French spying suspect featured a white man in his 50s wearing a white shirt and appearing somewhat alarmed. National television also broadcast photos of 11 people it said were members of the group that planned the coup. The security minister also identified two Malian generals he said were part of the plot. One of the suspects, General Abass Dembele, is a former governor of the country's central Mopti region, who was abruptly dismissed in May when he demanded an investigation into allegations that the Malian army killed civilians in the village of Diafarabe. The second general, Nema Sagara, was previously lauded for her role in fighting rebel groups in 2012. Security sources told the AFP news agency that at least 55 soldiers had been arrested, and authorities said they were working to identify 'possible accomplices'. Impoverished Mali has been gripped by a security crisis since 2012, fuelled notably by violence from armed groups affiliated with al-Qaeda and the ISIL (ISIS) group, as well as local criminal gangs. The country's military rulers, led by President Assimi Goita, have in recent years turned away from Western partners, notably former colonial power France, and aligned politically and militarily with Russia in the name of national sovereignty. In June, Goita was granted an additional five years in power, despite the military's earlier promises of a return to civilian rule by March 2024.
BBC News
11-08-2025
- 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
CTV News
02-07-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Al-Qaida-linked group claims attack against Mali army position near Senegal
Mali's Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces, Maj Gen Oumar Diarra salutes as he inspects the military during an independence day military parade in Bamako, Mali, Sept. 22, 2022. (AP Photo, file) BAMAKO, Mali — Armed men attacked a Mali community just over the border from Senegal, Mali's military said Tuesday — a development that one expert called especially worrying as the deadly violence spreads. The al-Qaida-linked JNIM extremist group claimed responsibility for the coordinated attack on several Malian army positions in the country's west and central regions. One position was in Diboli, across the border from Senegal, which has been largely spared the extremist attacks. 'The border region to Senegal is a major gateway for trade and imports from Dakar ports to Mali that had been relatively stable for years,' said Ulf Laessing, head of the Sahel program at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. 'This will also worry border communities in Senegal.' Malian army spokesperson Col. Majo Souleymane Dembélé said on national television that the army had 'neutralized' 80 attackers. There were no details on any casualties among soldiers. Mali, a landlocked nation in the semiarid Sahel region, for more than a decade has battled an insurgency by armed groups, including some allied with al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. Following military coups, Mali's authorities have expelled French forces and turned to Russia's mercenary units for assistance, but the security situation has been deteriorating. Attacks by extremists have been on the rise in Mali and neighboring Burkina Faso in recent weeks. JNIM has established a strong presence in both. Baba Ahmed, The Associated Press
Al Arabiya
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Al-Qaida-Linked Group Claims Attack Against Mali Army Position Near Senegal
Armed men attacked a Mali community just over the border from Senegal, Mali's military said Tuesday–an development that one expert called especially worrying as the deadly violence spreads. The al-Qaeda-linked JNIM extremist group claimed responsibility for the coordinated attack on several Malian army positions in the country's west and central regions. One position was in Diboli, across the border from Senegal, which has been largely spared the extremist attacks. 'The border region to Senegal is a major gateway for trade and imports from Dakar ports to Mali that had been relatively stable for years,' said Ulf Laessing, head of the Sahel program at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. 'This will also worry border communities in Senegal.' Malian army spokesperson Col. Majo Souleymane Dembélé said on national television that the army had neutralized 80 attackers. There were no details on any casualties among soldiers. Mali, a landlocked nation in the semiarid Sahel region, for more than a decade has battled an insurgency by extremist groups, including some allied with al-Qaeda and ISIS. Following military coups, Mali's authorities have expelled French forces and turned to Russia's mercenary units for assistance, but the security situation has been deteriorating. Attacks by extremists have been on the rise in Mali and neighboring Burkina Faso in recent weeks. JNIM has established a strong presence in both.
The Independent
01-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Al-Qaida-linked group claims attack against Mali army position near Senegal
Armed men attacked a Mali community just over the border from Senegal, Mali's military said Tuesday — an development that one expert called especially worrying as the deadly violence spreads. The al-Qaida-linked JNIM extremist group claimed responsibility for the coordinated attack on several Malian army positions in the country's west and central regions. One position was in Diboli, across the border from Senegal, which has been largely spared the extremist attacks. 'The border region to Senegal is a major gateway for trade and imports from Dakar ports to Mali that had been relatively stable for years,' said Ulf Laessing, head of the Sahel program at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. 'This will also worry border communities in Senegal.' Malian army spokesperson Col. Majo Souleymane Dembélé said on national television that the army had 'neutralized' 80 attackers. There were no details on any casualties among soldiers. Mali, a landlocked nation in the semiarid Sahel region, for more than a decade has battled an insurgency by armed groups, including some allied with al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. Following military coups, Mali's authorities have expelled French forces and turned to Russia's mercenary units for assistance, but the security situation has been deteriorating. Attacks by extremists have been on the rise in Mali and neighboring Burkina Faso in recent weeks. JNIM has established a strong presence in both.
