Malian authorities have arrested several military officials and civilians, including two army generals and a suspected French intelligence operative, in connection with an alleged attempt to destabilize the nation.
Mali’s security minister, General Daoud Aly Mohammedine, announced the arrests on Thursday evening following days of rumours that Malian military officials had been arrested, News.Az reports, citing foreign media.
The minister said, “The situation is completely under control.”
“The transitional government informs the national public of the arrest of a small group of marginal elements of the Malian armed and security forces for criminal offences aimed at destabilising the institutions of the republic,” Mohammedine said on national news.
“The conspiracy has been foiled with the arrests of those involved,” he said, adding that the plot began on August 1.
“These soldiers and civilians” had obtained “the help of foreign states”, Mali’s military said in a statement, adding that a French national – identified as Yann Christian Bernard Vezilier – was held on suspicion of working “on behalf of the French intelligence service”.
The security minister said the Frenchman acted “on behalf of the French intelligence service, which mobilised political leaders, civil society actors and military personnel” in Mali.
Images shared on social media of the alleged French spying suspect featured a white man in his 50s wearing a white shirt and appearing somewhat alarmed.
National television also broadcast photos of 11 people it said were members of the group that planned the coup.
The security minister also identified two Malian generals he said were part of the plot.
