Mali's former intelligence head arrested for alleged coup attempt

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - Mali's former internal intelligence head was arrested on suspicion of attempting a coup, prosecutors said Friday.

A statement by the state prosecutor at the High Court in the capital of Bamako said investigations have been opened against Col. Kassoum Goita in connection with the “attempted murder and conspiracy against the government.”

He is being investigated along with five others, including Police Commissioner Moustapha Diakite.

Goita is one of the army officers who overthrew former President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in an August 2020 military coup, led by current transitional president Col. Assimi Goita, who was appointed as head of internal intelligence in the transitional government.

But the now jailed Goita was fired after a second coup that overthrew the leaders of the interim government in May.

Last month, Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop cast doubts on elections early next year, dismissing pressure from the country's partners.

Speaking at a news conference in Rabat, Morocco, Diop hinted that the Feb. 27 presidential and legislative elections may not be held “if the security situation is not taken care of.”​​​​​​​