Mali’s military rulers say they have arrested a French national on suspicion of spying for his country in an attempt to destabilise the African nation.
In a statement read on national television late on Thursday, the junta alleged that Yann Vezilier was working “on behalf of the French intelligence service”. Mr Vezilier is yet to comment on the accusation.
His picture was also broadcast, alongside those of a number of army generals arrested recently for allegedly planning to overthrow the military government.
“The conspiracy has been foiled with the arrests of those involved,” Mali’s Security Minister Gen Daoud Aly Mohammedine said in the televised address.
France, Mali’s former colonial ruler, is also yet to comment on the man’s arrest and allegations of destabilisation.
The West African nation has been gripped by a security crisis fuelled by an Islamist insurgency since 2012 – one of the reasons given for the military takeover but attacks by jihadist groups have continued and even increased.
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Following days of speculation about the alleged coup plot, Gen Mohammedine confirmed that “fringe elements of the Malian armed security forces” had been detained for seeking to “destabilise the institutions of the republic”.
“These soldiers and civilians” were said to have obtained “the help of foreign states”, the minister said.
The French national acted “on behalf of the French intelligence service, which mobilised political leaders, civil society actors and military personnel” in Mali, the minister added.
He also confirmed the arrest of two army generals, including Gen Abass Dembele, the former governor of the Mopti region, who was recently dismissed from his position.
Security sources told AFP that no fewer than 55 soldiers have been arrested so far in connection with the alleged attempted coup,
