A coup scare in Mali has led to the arrest of dozens of soldiers for allegedly plotting to overthrow the military government of Colonel Assimi Goita.
According to reports by AFP, a Malian security source confirmed on Sunday that for three days, there have been multiple arrests linked to an attempt to destabilise the institutions.
AFP also quoted a separate source within the West Africa country’s army as confirming an “attempt at destabilisation”, adding: “We have gone ahead with the necessary arrests”.
AFP said that among those arrested was General Abass Dembele, a former governor of the central Mopti region and a respected military officer.
“Soldiers came early this morning (Sunday) to arrest General Abass Dembele in Kati,” on the outskirts of the capital Bamako,” AFP quoted a figure close to the officer as saying, adding: “They have not told him why he was arrested.”
AFP also reported a member of the National Transition Council saying that the junta-backed parliament has executed “around 50 arrests”.
“All are soldiers. Their objective was to overthrow the junta,” the lawmaker stated.
