Mali: Foiled coup plot adds to mounting pressures

The ruling junta of Mali face growing turbulence as an alleged coup plot has been foiled, two dozen soldiers were arrested on August 10th as a result.

According to France 24 via AFP, the Malian leadership, who themselves came to power through two military coups, now face similar issues from their own ranks. With dozens of arrests made in connection to the “attempt at destabilisation,” the growing pressures in the country seem to be forging cracks within the military regime.

“Since three days ago, there have been arrests linked to an attempt to destabilise the institutions. There have been at least 20 arrests,” a Malian security source told AFP.

Among the detained is high-ranking General Abass Dembele, a former governor of the central Mopti region, and reportedly a well-respected military official. He was arrested on the morning of August 10th in a town on the outskirts of the county’s capital Bamako.

A representative of the National Transition Council, the junta-backed parliament of Mali, apparently said around 50 individuals were incarcerated. “All are soldiers. Their objective was to overthrow the junta,” he stated.

As well as this situation, the junta face further strain from their ongoing struggle with jihadists. According to Maghrebi, the threat from Islamist militant groups have become a huge factor of instability in the country, the recent attacks on key cities such as Timbuktu and Kayes further highlight the severity of the country’s predicament.

The political climate of Mali also stands in a contentious position, with General Assini Goita, signing an order which suspended all political activities “until further notice,” following pro-democracy and anti-junta protests.

These protests were largely motivated by the governments latest move to consolidate power, in which a conference organised by the ruling junta pushed to extend their leadership until 2030, despite their previous commitments to return the country back to civilian rule by March 2024.

Many dissenting or opposing voices to the military regime have found themselves behind bars in the junta’s attempt to reinforce control.

France 24, Maghrebi.org