A colonel in the Malian army, Alpha Yaya Sangaré , has been dismissed from the armed and security forces as a "disciplinary measure," according to a decree published Friday in the Official Gazette. The decree was issued by the head of the ruling junta, General Assimi Goïta .

The reason for this sanction is the publication by Colonel Sangaré, at the end of 2023, of a book entitled "Mali: The Challenge of Terrorism in Africa" . In this book, the national gendarmerie officer discusses abuses committed by the army against civilian populations during counter-terrorism operations, citing in particular reports from international human rights organizations.

These revelations have provoked the anger of the military who have been running the country since the coups of 2020 and 2021. Colonel Sangaré has been imprisoned since March 2024 .

Context of the Malian crisis and current governance

Mali has been facing a serious security crisis since 2012, marked by violence from armed groups such as JNIM (affiliated with Al-Qaeda) and the Islamic State (IS), as well as community criminal groups.

Since taking power, the military leaders have moved closer to Russia , while distancing themselves from the former French colonial power.

At the same time, the junta has imposed significant restrictions on freedoms , seeking to stifle dissenting voices and the opposition through coercive measures, legal proceedings, and the dissolution of organizations. The regime justifies these actions by the need to present a united front in the face of numerous national challenges.