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In Focus | Mali
How regime insiders Karim Keïta and Moussa Diawara slipped through the putschists' net

Despite being Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta's leading collaborators, former intelligence chief Moussa Diawara and the deposed head of state's oldest son, Karim Keïta, have been able to slip quietly into exile. Africa Intelligence reveals their activities before and after IBK's fall from power and detail the ambiguous roles they played in the weeks leading up to the coup. [...]

Published on 26/10/2020 at 05:40 GMT Reading time 9 minutes Paul Deutschmann

The population cheering soldiers in Bamako after the coup of 18 August 18 2020. © Moussa Kalapo/EPA/MaxPPP

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Politics

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Mali
Alassane Ouattara
Amadou Gon Coulibaly
Assimi Goita
Bataillon autonome des forces spéciales
Bouba Keïta
Boubou Cisse
DGSE
Edouard Philippe
Faure Gnassingbe
Fousseyni Ba
Hamed Bakayoko
Ibrahim Boubacar Keita
Ibrahim Dahirou Dembele
Karim Keita
Lassine Sanogo
Malick Diaw
Minusma
Mohamed Ben Ahmed Mahri
Moussa Diawara
Mouvement du 5 juin-Rassemblement des forces patriotiques
National Committee for the Salvation of the People
Oumar Dao
Ousman Sowe
Sadio Camara
SE
Sophie Petronin
Soumaila Cisse
Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga
State Intelligence Services
United Nations

Mali
General Yamoussa Camara, the Mali junta's éminence grise

Yamoussa Camara has in less than a year become one of the most influential figures in Mali's Koulouba presidential palace. Junta leader Assimi Goïta made him his permanent secretary last year, and he advises the five putschist colonels he had under his command at a military high school in the 1990s.

Subscribers only Politics 15.11.2022

Yamoussa Camara, then secretary of defence, stands with François Lecointre, commander of the European Union Training Mission in Mali (EUTM Mali) on 18 March 2013.

Mali
Opposition leader Moussa Mara tours under tight watch

Mali's former prime minister Moussa Mara is headed to Paris in the coming days. But he has very little freedom of movement: every week, he has to check in with the Bamako economic and financial centre, an anti-corruption office.

Subscribers only Politics 24.10.2022

L'ex-premier ministre malien Moussa Mara à Kati, près de Bamako, en mai 2018.

Inner circles | Mali
Inside Assimi Goita's discreet inner circle of advisors

The leader of the August 18 putsch that overthrew Ibrahim Boubakar Keita, Col. Assimi Goita, who is now vice-president of the transition prefers to keep well out of the public eye and relies on a group of hand-picked, mostly military, advisors.

Subscribers only Politics 02.02.2021

Colonel Assimi Goita is sworn in as Mali's transitional vice president in Bamako, Mali, 25 September 2020.

Mali, Togo
Faure Gnassingbé plays godfather of Mali transition

Togo's president, who since August has forged close links with putschist officers in Mali, wants to persuade the vice-president of the transitional government, Assimi Goita, to give more leeway to Prime Minister Moctar Ouane. Lomé is set to host the next meeting of the Mali Transition Support Group in February.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 11.01.2021

The transitional vice-president Assimi Goita with Togo's president Faure Gnassimbé, on 28 december in Lomé.

Mali, Togo
Hush-hush diplomacy between Lomé and Bamako shores up junta

Though the visit to Lomé by the president of the transition Bah N'Daw on 13 November was the first by a top Malian official to the country, very close contacts have been nurtured behind the scenes between the leaders of the putsch and Faure Gnassingbé ever since the coup d'état on 18 August.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 19.11.2020

The meeting with Faure Gnassingbé (left) on 13 November in Lomé was a key stage in Bah N'Daw's regional tour.

Mali
New government under pressure to show it can enforce the Algiers agreement

On 16 November, the committee monitoring application of the 2015 Algiers peace agreement will hold its first meeting since the 18 August putsch under the watchful eyes of the United Nations and the European Union.

Subscribers only Politics 13.11.2020

Mali
For former prime minister Moussa Mara, the presidential campaign has already begun

Mali's presidential election isn't due until the first quarter of 2022 but that hasn't stopped Moussa Mara, who served as prime minister under ousted president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, from getting the ball rolling and activating his networks, not just in Bamako, but also in Paris.

Subscribers only Politics 02.11.2020

Former Malian Prime Minister Moussa Mara.

Mali
After the coup, high-voltage mission for the UN panel of experts

After the coup d'état of 18 August in Mali, the UN Panel of Experts for Mali was tasked with gauging the new authorities' will to implement the Algiers accord. In the event of obstruction, those now in power in Bamako know that the United Nations is serious about imposing sanctions.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 23.10.2020

Mali
Military determined to retain control of transitional parliament

Following the formation of a new government on 5 October, Bamako is to set up a provisional parliament which the putschists are hoping to preside over.

Subscribers only Politics 09.10.2020

Mali
After coup, MINUSMA leadership talks back in full swing

As the fallout of the 18-August coup continues to rock the country, the head of the peacekeeping operation in Mali, Mahamat Saleh Annadif, should have his mandate extended until April. But the debate on who will succeed him is back on and Washington is still pushing for David Gressly.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 22.09.2020

Mahamat Saleh Annadif, the Special Representative for Mali and head of MINUSMA since 2015, will be keeping his post for another four months.

Mali
Coup-makers split between two generals for transitional president

With only days to go before the expected appointment of the transitional president, CNSP officers are still divided over who should have the job. The coup-makers are divided between former generals Moussa Sinko Coulibaly and Mahamane Touré.

Subscribers only Politics 17.09.2020

Mali
Closed door negotiations under way to decide IBK's fate

After being forced to resign by part of the army on 18 August, the former Malian president could be allowed to go to the United Arab Emirates, where he has been receiving medical care for months.

Subscribers only Politics 20.08.2020

Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta still smiling during the latest G5 Sahel summit in Nouachott, 30 June.

Mali, United Nations
IBK's spy-in-chief faces likely UN sanctions

With the intelligence chief General Moussa Diawara in the firing line of the UN panel of experts, Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta could be forced to dispense with one of his key allies.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 18.08.2020

Mali, United Nations
Malian officials could face UN sanctions

Several Malian officials accused of obstructing the 2015 Algiers Accord are now in the sights of the UN Security Council's Mali sanctions committee.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 08.07.2020

Spotlight | Africa
A new generation of spy chiefs settle in to their posts

Over recent months, several leaders in West and Central Africa have appointed new intelligence chiefs so as to better counter terrorism, organized crime and post-election violence. In some instances, senior officers, especially those drawn from the gendarmerie, appear to have [.

Subscribers only Politics 16.11.2016

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Mali
Alassane Ouattara
Amadou Gon Coulibaly
Assimi Goita
Bataillon autonome des forces spéciales
Bouba Keïta
Boubou Cisse
DGSE
Edouard Philippe
Faure Gnassingbe
Fousseyni Ba
Hamed Bakayoko
Ibrahim Boubacar Keita
Ibrahim Dahirou Dembele
Karim Keita
Lassine Sanogo
Malick Diaw
Minusma
Mohamed Ben Ahmed Mahri
Moussa Diawara
Mouvement du 5 juin-Rassemblement des forces patriotiques
National Committee for the Salvation of the People
Oumar Dao
Ousman Sowe
Sadio Camara
SE
Sophie Petronin
Soumaila Cisse
Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga
State Intelligence Services
United Nations

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Senegal
Guns and oil drive Russia's Dakar courtship

Botswana, South Africa
From Gaborone to Antwerp, is De Beers's empire on the rocks?

In Focus | Mali
How regime insiders Karim Keïta and Moussa Diawara slipped through the putschists' net

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Set up email notifications for these topics

Mali
General Yamoussa Camara, the Mali junta's éminence grise

Mali
Opposition leader Moussa Mara tours under tight watch

Inner circles | Mali
Inside Assimi Goita's discreet inner circle of advisors

Mali, Togo
Faure Gnassingbé plays godfather of Mali transition

Mali, Togo
Hush-hush diplomacy between Lomé and Bamako shores up junta

Mali
New government under pressure to show it can enforce the Algiers agreement

Mali
For former prime minister Moussa Mara, the presidential campaign has already begun

Mali
After the coup, high-voltage mission for the UN panel of experts

Mali
Military determined to retain control of transitional parliament

Mali
After coup, MINUSMA leadership talks back in full swing

Mali
Coup-makers split between two generals for transitional president

Mali
Closed door negotiations under way to decide IBK's fate

Mali, United Nations
IBK's spy-in-chief faces likely UN sanctions

Mali, United Nations
Malian officials could face UN sanctions

Spotlight | Africa
A new generation of spy chiefs settle in to their posts

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About Africa Intelligence

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Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

About Africa Intelligence

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Indigo Publications' websites

Senegal Guns and oil drive Russia's Dakar courtship

Botswana, South Africa From Gaborone to Antwerp, is De Beers's empire on the rocks?

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In Focus | Mali How regime insiders Karim Keïta and Moussa Diawara slipped through the putschists' net

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Set up email notifications for these topics

Mali General Yamoussa Camara, the Mali junta's éminence grise

Mali Opposition leader Moussa Mara tours under tight watch

Inner circles | Mali Inside Assimi Goita's discreet inner circle of advisors

Mali, Togo Faure Gnassingbé plays godfather of Mali transition

Mali, Togo Hush-hush diplomacy between Lomé and Bamako shores up junta

Mali New government under pressure to show it can enforce the Algiers agreement

Mali For former prime minister Moussa Mara, the presidential campaign has already begun

Mali After the coup, high-voltage mission for the UN panel of experts

Mali Military determined to retain control of transitional parliament

Mali After coup, MINUSMA leadership talks back in full swing

Mali Coup-makers split between two generals for transitional president

Mali Closed door negotiations under way to decide IBK's fate

Mali, United Nations IBK's spy-in-chief faces likely UN sanctions

Mali, United Nations Malian officials could face UN sanctions

Spotlight | Africa A new generation of spy chiefs settle in to their posts

Set up email notifications for these topics

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

Senegal
Guns and oil drive Russia's Dakar courtship

Botswana, South Africa
From Gaborone to Antwerp, is De Beers's empire on the rocks?

In Focus | Mali
How regime insiders Karim Keïta and Moussa Diawara slipped through the putschists' net

Mali
General Yamoussa Camara, the Mali junta's éminence grise

Mali
Opposition leader Moussa Mara tours under tight watch

Inner circles | Mali
Inside Assimi Goita's discreet inner circle of advisors

Mali, Togo
Faure Gnassingbé plays godfather of Mali transition

Mali, Togo
Hush-hush diplomacy between Lomé and Bamako shores up junta

Mali
New government under pressure to show it can enforce the Algiers agreement

Mali
For former prime minister Moussa Mara, the presidential campaign has already begun

Mali
After the coup, high-voltage mission for the UN panel of experts

Mali
Military determined to retain control of transitional parliament

Mali
After coup, MINUSMA leadership talks back in full swing

Mali
Coup-makers split between two generals for transitional president

Mali
Closed door negotiations under way to decide IBK's fate

Mali, United Nations
IBK's spy-in-chief faces likely UN sanctions

Mali, United Nations
Malian officials could face UN sanctions

Spotlight | Africa
A new generation of spy chiefs settle in to their posts