Mali’s military government has arrested two senior generals and a French national over an alleged plot to destabilize the West African country, state media and government officials confirmed on August 14, 2025.
According to the Ministry of Territorial Administration, those detained include Yann Vezilier, a French citizen accused of working with French intelligence services to mobilize political figures, civil society leaders, and military officers against the ruling junta.
State television also aired images of 10 other suspects linked to the alleged plot. Among them are General Abass Dembele, a former governor of the Mopti region, and General Nema Sagara, another senior military figure.
The government did not provide an exact number of arrests but described the suspects as “a group of marginal elements” and assured that the situation is under control.
This comes after sources told Reuters earlier in the week that more than 30 soldiers and officials were being investigated for planning to overthrow the government of General Assimi Goita, who came to power following two coups in 2020 and 2021.
Mali has struggled with over a decade of turmoil, including Islamist insurgencies in the north and political instability that has fueled military takeovers. Despite promises to hold democratic elections, Goita was granted a five-year renewable term in June 2025, and all political activities remain suspended.
France, once Mali’s key military partner, has seen its influence in the Sahel decline following tensions with military regimes in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. Paris withdrew its troops after disputes with the juntas, while Mali turned to Russia for military support.
The French Foreign Ministry said on Friday it had no official comment on Vezilier’s arrest.
Meanwhile, Mali continues to face worsening security challenges. Attacks by al-Qaeda-linked group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) have surged in recent months, threatening stability not only in Mali but also in neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger.
