The official narrative from Mali’s transitional authorities paints a picture of growing strength within the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) and unwavering control over national territory. Yet, the October 19, 2026, opening of the Military Tribunal of Mopti in Sévaré has exposed deep cracks in that story. With 72 defendants—69 of them military personnel—facing 43 cases ranging from arms trafficking to desertion and violent crimes, the courtroom has become a stage revealing an institution plagued by systemic failures from within.
State weapons fueling the enemy: a damaging revelation
Among the most alarming cases are those tied to the mishandling of military equipment. Nearly half of the charges involve the loss, theft, or illegal diversion of weapons, ammunition, and magazines. Beneath the legal jargon lies a harsh security truth: a significant portion of the state-issued arsenal intended for Malian troops is ending up in the hands of armed groups. In the central and northern operation zones, these diverted supplies—lost to negligence, corruption, or active collusion—are being wielded by fighters from the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (EIGS).
While Bamako repeatedly condemns alleged external support for terrorist groups, the tribunal in Sévaré underscores a toxic supply chain thriving within its own barracks and ammunition depots. The irony is bitter: Malian soldiers are increasingly falling to gunfire from weapons funded by their own national budget.
Desertions and abuses: the breaking point of a strained force
Equally telling is the surge in desertion cases, described by the military prosecutor as the second most common offence. The rising tide of unauthorized absences and post abandonments signals a moral exhaustion and a breakdown of discipline within the ranks—something no amount of rhetoric about ‘sacrifice’ can conceal. Despite repeated calls for reintegration and ultimatums from the high command, the trend persists, thinning the operational presence on the ground.
Even more damaging, however, are the allegations of assassination, torture, abduction, and sexual violence attributed to military personnel. These abuses against civilians validate long-standing warnings from human rights organizations. By alienating local communities, such misconduct severs the army’s most vital intelligence lifeline and plays directly into the propaganda of insurgent groups, who position themselves as protectors against state abuse.
A struggling military justice system
The tribunal’s proceedings in Mopti, touted as a display of transparency and rigor, instead highlight the chronic delays of a military justice system on the brink. The prosecution cites insecurity, a shortage of magistrates, and geographic isolation as reasons for the infrequent sessions. Yet, this neglect has led to prolonged pretrial detentions, with some defendants languishing in prison for years before facing a judge—a practice condemned by the Malian Bar Association.
The need for leadership accountability
For Colonel Assimi Goïta and the supreme command, the Sévaré trials must not be treated as a routine cleanup or a public relations exercise. They serve as a stark warning: no military strategy can succeed if the chain of command allows weapons to leak to the enemy, if discipline crumbles on the front lines, or if justice operates sporadically. Before demanding blind trust from the population, Mali’s defense apparatus must first confront its internal failures and seal the gaps through which its own strength is draining away.
