Bamako, August 2025 – France has called for the immediate release of one of its embassy employees detained in Mali, warning that the arrest violates international law protections for diplomatic staff.
Malian authorities claim the individual was engaged in intelligence activities on behalf of France and accuse “foreign states” of plotting to destabilize the country. The arrest coincides with the government’s announcement that dozens of Malian soldiers were taken into custody over an alleged coup plot.
Relations between Bamako and Paris have deteriorated sharply since Mali’s 2020 and 2021 coups, with the ruling military authorities turning away from France and strengthening political and security ties with Russia.
The case highlights both the fragile domestic situation in Mali, marked by militants violence and instability, and the growing rift between the West African nation and its former colonial power.