Mali military junta arrests soldiers over alleged coup
Mali has arrested dozens of soldiers suspected of plotting to overthrow the west African country’s military junta according to France 24 via AFP on August 10th.
The arrests of these soldiers, which includes a high-ranking general, occur amidst emerging discontent within the army around the direction of the nation and the continuing repression of critics.
Malian security sources confirmed “there have been arrests linked to an attempt to destabilise the institutions” and there had been at least “20 arrests”.
The junta themselves acquired power through a military coup in 2020 and 2021, and have since embarked on a system of repression, recently targeting former Prime Minister Moussa Mara.
General Abass Dembele, a former governor of the central Mopti region and a respected military officer, was among those arrested and accused of attempting to overthrow the junta.
Despite Colonel Assimi Goita promising to restore democracy to the troubled nation when he seized power, political diversity and dissent has evaporated, with political parties being dissolved and Goita’s presidency being extended until 2030, without elections.
More broadly, Mali has numerous economic and military challenges, with militants linked to Al-Qaeda or Islamic State groups carrying out violent attacks, and other forms of sectarian violence also rife.
These troubles are mirrored in the wider Sahel region, where Niger and Burkina Faso have succumbed to military coups and reneging on democratic promises, with the latter recently dissolving its electoral commission.
However, all of these juntas have failed to contain the jihadist threat, whilst the regular army along with Russian mercenaries are regularly accused of committing atrocities against civilians.
Malian sociologist Oumar Maiga believes the latest expelling of military troops is borne out of the inability of officers to manage the situation, saying “there are grumblings within the army’s ranks.”
“Some soldiers are not happy with the treatment given to Russian mercenaries at the expense of Malian soldiers” Maiga added.
Even with the Russian mercenaries, the junta is struggling to combat the jihadist militants they said they would protect their people from.
France 24 via AFP, Maghrebi.org
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