Malian President General Assimi Goïta has issued a presidential decree dismissing several senior and junior officers from the armed forces as part of disciplinary measures linked to an attempted coup.
Those removed include Brigadier Generals Abass Dembélé and Nema Sagara, along with multiple lieutenant colonels, captains, and a staff sergeant.
The officers were arrested on August 1, 2025, after security services thwarted what authorities described as a coup attempt involving both Malian soldiers and foreign collaborators. A French national, Yann Christian Bernard Vizilier, was reportedly among those detained for his alleged role in the plot.
The transitional government has condemned the failed attempt, assuring citizens that investigations are ongoing to uncover additional accomplices.
Officials reaffirmed that Mali’s defense and security forces remain committed to their mission of combating terrorism and safeguarding national stability.
This is not the first disciplinary action of its kind under the transitional administration; in May 2024, six army officers were dismissed for joining the Permanent Strategic Framework for Peace, Security and Development (CSP-PSD), which later evolved into the Azawad Liberation Front.
