Mali's Government Discuss Arrest of Suspected French Spy Linked to Coup Conspiracy with Military Personnel

France has expressed concerns regarding the apprehension of Yann Vezilier, a French military veteran, suspected of espionage in Mali. Authorities there have charged him with plotting a coup alongside several Malian military officials, including two high-ranking generals. The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs is currently engaged in discussions with Mali to resolve these allegations.Vezilier, a former lieutenant colonel in the French Air Force with nearly 30 years of service and a recipient of the National Order of Merit, is now said to work as a diplomat at the French Embassy. Previous incidents, such as the expulsion of three French diplomats from Burkina Faso under similar pretenses, raise questions about the nature of these diplomatic missions.Mali’s Security Minister accused Vezilier of orchestrating a conspiracy to destabilize the current military government led by President Assimi Goita. As anti-French sentiment swells across the Sahel region, the ramifications of these incidents continue to unfold amidst calls for the withdrawal of French military presence.