Mali arrests dozens of soldiers for an alleged coup attempt against the junta

Dozens of soldiers have been arrested in Mali, accused of plotting the country’s military leaders, sources say.

The wave of arrests, which is reported overnight and is expected to continue, reflects the increased tension in the military government, with reports that the rebellion of jihadists in the north is recruiting. Authorities have not commented on the arrests.

Initial reports indicate that Gen Abes Dembele, a former governor of the Motti region and the gene no saga, one of the few women at the highest levels of the Malian army, are among the detainees.

However, a source close to Gen Dembele told the BBC that neither was arrested.

The source, which confirmed the current arrests, told a BBC reporter in Bamaco that he had just left Gen Dembele’s house and he was “doing well”.

The AFP News Agency said detained soldiers say they plan to overthrow the government, citing numerous sources within the military and a transitional council supported by the Junta.

“They are all soldiers. Their goal was to overthrow the junta,” he quoted an unnamed legislator in the National Transition Council.

He said there were about 50 arrests while a security source said there were at least 20 arrests related to “attempts to destabilize institutions,” AFP reported.

Arrests have been reported to continue for several days.

They come against the backdrop of the political tension, intensified by the repression of the junta against former Prime Ministers Musa Mara and Chogel Maiga for accusations of hurting the state’s reputation and appropriation.

Mara, a recent candid critic of the military government, has been in detention on August 1While MAIGA faces court sanctions.

In May, the junta opened all political parties after rare anti -government protests, which Mara described as a serious blow to reconciliation initiated by military leaders last year.

Junta leader Gen Assimi Goa, who seized power through two coups in 2020 and 2021, promised the election last year, but they had never been held.

In July, The transition period was extended by five yearsclearing it to continue leading the country until at least 2030.

Mali has been fighting the Islamist rebel since 2012 – one of the reasons given for military absorption, but the attacks of jihadist groups continue and even increase.

Along with his neighbors Niger and Burkina Faso, he joined the help of Russian allies to master jihadist attacks in the region after violating ties with France – but there are no significant security improvements.