The situation for French spies stationed in Africa has become increasingly perilous, even when they are officially registered with local authorities. In 2024 alone, France had to negotiate with Burkina Faso for the release of four agents from the General Directorate of External Security (DGSE) and faced the arrest of an intelligence officer assigned to the French embassy in Mali. The arrest occurred on August 14 amid a purge within the general staff of the Malian armed forces.

On Wednesday, August 20, the website of the monthly magazine Jeune Afrique reported that Bamako had detained a French DGSE agent named Yann V. The Malian authorities claimed that Yann V. was suspected of mobilizing political leaders, civil society actors, and military personnel, including Brigadier Generals Abass Dembélé and Nema Sagara, as part of an alleged conspiracy.

Approximately 10 Malian officers and high-ranking officials were also questioned by the State Security (SE), the Malian intelligence service. The group was accused of planning to overthrow the current regime. Similar accusations were made by Niger against Paris and its agents in 2024.

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