French National Detained in Alleged Coup Conspiracy in Mali

Sat Aug 16 2025 11:48:55 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)
French National Detained in Alleged Coup Conspiracy in Mali

Mali's military junta claims a French citizen was plotting to destabilize the nation.


Amid rising political tensions, Mali's junta has arrested Yann Vezilier, accused of working with French intelligence to orchestrate a coup. The situation unfolds against a backdrop of increased security concerns and ongoing Islamist violence in the region.



Mali's military government announced the arrest of French national Yann Vezilier on suspicions of espionage and involvement in a coup plot purportedly orchestrated by French intelligence. The statement, delivered on national television by Security Minister Gen Daoud Aly Mohammedine, alleges that Vezilier conspired to destabilize the West African nation.

In addition to the arrest of Vezilier, the junta has detained two army generals and over 55 soldiers, escalating the crackdown on what officials describe as "fringe elements" within the armed forces seeking to undermine the military regime. "A conspiracy has been foiled with the arrests of those involved," Gen Mohammedine stated, emphasizing that the military is in complete control of the situation.

While the French government has not yet responded to the allegations, the diplomatic relationship between Mali and its former colonial ruler has soured in recent years, exacerbated by Mali's pivot toward Russian alliances amid widespread jihadist violence since 2012.

Political unrest has escalated in Mali with high-profile arrests of former Prime Ministers Moussa Mara and Choguel Maïga under accusations of state defamation and embezzlement, leading many to question the junta's commitment to a peaceful transition toward democracy. In May, the military leadership dissolved all political parties, marking a significant setback for national reconciliation efforts that were initiated last year.

Junta leader Gen Asimi Goïta, who has held power since recent coups in 2020 and 2021, pledged elections last year, which have yet to materialize. Recently, the transition period for governance has been extended by five additional years, allowing Goïta to maintain authority potentially until 2030. As Mali aligns itself more closely with Russian support against ongoing regional insurgencies, improvements in national security remain elusive.

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