"Mali's Junta Arrests French National on Spying Charges Amid Coup Allegations"
Mali's military rulers have announced the arrest of a French national, Yann Vezilier, on suspicion of espionage, alleging he was working to destabilize the African nation on behalf of the French intelligence service. The accusations were made during a televised statement late Thursday, but Vezilier has yet to respond to the claims.
His image was broadcast alongside those of several army generals recently detained for allegedly plotting to overthrow the military government. Gen Daoud Aly Mohammedine, Mali's Security Minister, declared, "The conspiracy has been foiled with the arrests of those involved."
France, Mali's former colonial ruler, has not yet commented on Vezilier's arrest or the allegations of destabilization.
Mali has been grappling with a security crisis fueled by an Islamist insurgency since 2012, which was one of the justifications for the military takeover. Despite the junta's efforts, attacks by jihadist groups have persisted and even escalated.
Following days of speculation regarding the alleged coup plot, Gen Mohammedine confirmed that "fringe elements of the Malian armed security forces" had been detained for attempting to "destabilize the institutions of the republic." He stated that these soldiers and civilians had allegedly received assistance from "foreign states."
The minister further asserted that Vezilier acted "on behalf of the French intelligence service, which mobilized political leaders, civil society actors, and military personnel" in Mali. He also confirmed the arrest of two army generals, including Gen Abass Dembele, the former governor of the Mopti region, who had recently been dismissed from his position.
So far, at least 55 soldiers have been arrested in connection with the alleged coup attempt, according to security sources. Gen Mohammedine indicated that a comprehensive investigation is underway to identify "possible accomplices," assuring that "the situation is completely under control."
Political tensions have been escalating in recent weeks, highlighted by the arrests of former Prime Ministers Moussa Mara and Choguel Maïga on charges of harming the state's reputation and embezzlement. Mara, a vocal critic of the military government, has been detained since August 1, while Maïga faces judicial sanctions.
In May, the junta dissolved all political parties following rare anti-government protests, which Mara described as a significant setback to reconciliation efforts initiated by the military leaders last year. Junta leader Gen Asimi Goïta, who seized power in both 2020 and 2021, had promised elections last year, but these have yet to materialize. In July, the transition period was extended by five years, allowing him to continue leading the country until at least 2030.
Mali, along with its neighbors Niger and Burkina Faso, has sought assistance from Russian allies to combat jihadist attacks in the region after severing ties with France, yet there have been no significant improvements in security.
