Mali’s transitional government has dismissed several high-ranking military officers accused of involvement in a foiled coup attempt in August.
The move was confirmed in a presidential decree signed by transitional leader General Assimi Goïta and made public on Wednesday.Mali Sacks Senior Officers Over Failed Coup Attempt
The decree, dated October 7, lists a dozen senior officers dismissed from the armed and security forces as a disciplinary measure. Among them are two brigadier generals, Abass Dembélé and Nema Sagara, along with several lieutenant colonels and captains.
Authorities said the officers were implicated in what they described as a “subversive act” carried out on August 1, 2025. Major General Daoud Aly Mohammedine, Minister of Security and Civil Protection, had earlier disclosed on national television that the plot was thwarted by specialized security services.
The government stated that judicial investigations are ongoing to uncover additional accomplices in the attempted coup.
In a new twist, officials also alleged the involvement of a foreign national. The decree identified a French citizen, Yann Christian Bernard Vizilier, as having “actively participated” in the failed operation, a claim likely to further strain relations between Bamako and Paris, which have been tense since Mali’s break from French military cooperation.
This latest purge underscores growing internal challenges within the military-led government as it seeks to consolidate power. It also adds to a pattern of dismissals under General Goïta’s leadership. In May 2024, six army lieutenants were removed from service for allegedly joining the separatist Azawad Liberation Front.
The recurring purges highlight the junta’s struggle to preserve cohesion within the armed forces amid ongoing insecurity and political uncertainty in the country.
