Mali’s military ruler, Assimi Goïta, has dismissed three senior army commanders following a series of failures in the country’s prolonged fight against militant insurgents.
A cabinet statement released on Wednesday confirmed that Goïta replaced the deputy chief of general staff, the head of military security, and the commander of ground forces.
A senior military source, speaking anonymously, said the dismissals were decided during an emergency defence council meeting on Tuesday due to “poor results” on the battlefield. The source added that the officers were accused of failing to anticipate and repel militant attacks, and some could face prosecution.
Mali has been mired in conflict since 2012, when Islamist militants linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group seized large parts of the north before expanding southward.
Goïta’s junta, which took power in coups in 2020 and 2021, has struggled to quell the insurgency despite distancing itself from Western allies and strengthening ties with Russia.
In recent months, Al-Qaeda-affiliated groups have escalated attacks along vital supply routes, threatening to isolate the capital, Bamako. Since September, militant blockades have also disrupted fuel imports from neighbouring countries, worsening economic hardship in the already fragile, landlocked nation.
The latest shake-up highlights growing frustration within the junta as it confronts both an entrenched insurgency and increasing criticism of its military strategy.
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Source:Africa Publicity
