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Malis military ruler, Lieutenant Colonel Assimi Goita, centre, attends an Independence Day military parade in Bamako on September 22, 2022 [AP Photo]
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Bamako, Mali
Tensions are running high in Mali’s capital after the arrest of dozens of soldiers, including two senior generals, in what is believed to be a crackdown on an alleged coup plot to overthrow the government of transitional president General Assimi Goita. Shops and offices remained open on Tuesday, but residents said that the atmosphere in Bamako was uneasy. The military government has yet to issue an official statement, but media reports say between 36 and 50 soldiers have been detained since the weekend.
Malis military ruler, Lieutenant Colonel Assimi Goita, centre, attends an Independence Day military parade in Bamako on September 22, 2022 [AP Photo]
Who was arrested?
Among those arrested is General Abass Dembele, a former military governor of Mopti, known for leading from the front in the 2012 northern war. He was reportedly taken from his home in Kati on Sunday morning. Also believed to be in custody is Air Force General Nema Sagara, one of Mali’s few high-ranking female officers and a veteran of the 2013 civil war. Many of those arrested are said to be members of the National Guard, headed by Defence Minister and General Sadio Camara — a former ally of Goita who is now seen by some as a potential rival.
This undated photograph released by the French military shows Russian mercenaries in northern Mali [AP Photo]
Why it matters
Analysts say this is the first major purge within Mali’s armed forces on coup-related suspicions since Goita seized power in back-to-back coups in 2020 and 2021. Goita’s government has banned political parties, dissolved opposition groups, and in July passed a law allowing him to seek a five-year renewable presidential term without elections. Critics accuse him of shrinking civic space and targeting political rivals.
In July, the transitional parliament approved a five-year renewable mandate, clearing the way for Goita to lead Mali until at least 2030 [Photo: EPE-EFA]
Rising discontent
The arrests come amid growing public frustration over worsening insecurity. Armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIL (ISIS) continue to control swathes of northern Mali, where sieges have cut off food, fuel, and medical supplies. Mali has also renewed fighting with Tuareg separatists after tearing up a 2015 peace deal, forcing hundreds to flee to Mauritania. In July, the army claimed it had killed 70 “terrorists” in the north, without clarifying whether they were jihadists or separatists.
Regional context
Mali, along with Burkina Faso and Niger, withdrew from the West African bloc ECOWAS earlier this year and formed the Alliance of Sahel States, creating a joint 5,000-strong force to fight armed groups. For now, the government remains silent on the arrests, a move analysts say is aimed at projecting unity despite apparent deepening rifts within the military’s top ranks.
Source: Aljazeera
READ ORIGINAL STORY HERE: Mali soldiers arrested over coup allegations: What we know
