Mali’s military rulers say they have arrested a group of military personnel and civilians, including two Malian generals and a suspected French agent, accusing them of attempting to destabilise the country. The security minister, Gen Daouda Aly Mohammedine, who announced the arrests on the local evening news on Thursday, told viewers an investigation was under way and that the situation was “completely under control”. Sources told the Reuters and Agence France-Presse agencies earlier this week that dozens of military officials had been taken into custody. The development comes as the military continues to crack down on dissent after a pro-democracy rally in May, the first since soldiers seized power nearly four years ago. Few details were provided about the alleged coup plotters, what they had intended or the French national implicated in it, beyond identifying him as Yann Vezilier. Mohammedine said he had been acting “on behalf of the French intelligence service, which mobilised political leaders, civil society actors and military personnel” in Mali. Some reports in Mali have identified Vezilier as a flight officer who was listed on the French government website Légifrance as a lieutenant colonel as of 2020.

Full report : Mali’s military arrests generals, suspected French agent in overthrow plot.