Mali’s military-led government has announced the arrest of a French national accused of spying for France in what authorities claim was an attempt to destabilise the West African nation. In a televised statement late Thursday, Mali’s Security Minister, General Daoud Aly Mohammedine, alleged that the suspect, identified as Yann Vezilier, was operating “on behalf of the French intelligence service” to mobilise political leaders, civil society figures, and military personnel against the ruling junta.
The arrest of Mr. Vezilier, whose photograph was broadcast on national television, comes alongside the detention of several high-ranking army generals accused of plotting to overthrow the government. Among them is General Abass Dembele, the former governor of the Mopti region, who was recently dismissed from his post. According to security sources, at least 55 soldiers have now been detained in connection with the alleged coup plot, as the junta vows to root out “possible accomplices” through a full-scale investigation.
Mali’s authorities claim the plot involved “fringe elements of the armed security forces” working with foreign states to destabilise national institutions. While neither France, Mali’s former colonial power, nor Mr. Vezilier have commented on the allegations, the accusations further strain already tense relations between the two nations. Mali severed military and diplomatic cooperation with France in recent years, instead deepening security ties with Russia, but jihadist violence has continued to plague the country.
The alleged coup attempt comes amid heightened political tensions. In recent weeks, the junta has arrested former Prime Ministers Moussa Mara and Choguel Maïga. Mara, a vocal critic of the government, was detained on 1 August on charges of harming the reputation of the state, while Maïga faces judicial sanctions over alleged embezzlement. The crackdown follows the dissolution of all political parties in May after rare anti-government protests, which opposition figures say undermined reconciliation efforts promised by the military leaders.
General Asimi Goïta, who seized power in both 2020 and 2021, had pledged to hold elections last year but has since extended the transition period by an additional five years, potentially keeping him in power until at least 2030. Despite assurances that the “situation is completely under control,” unrest and insecurity remain major challenges. Mali, alongside neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso, continues to battle Islamist insurgencies linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State, with little sign of improvement despite new alliances and military operations.
The arrest of the French national and dozens of Malian officers marks the latest flashpoint in the country’s turbulent political climate, as the junta tightens its grip on power while facing growing internal dissent and unrelenting security threats.
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