The Malian transitional authorities continue to tout the “growing strength” of the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) and their sovereign control over national territory. Yet the opening of the Military Tribunal of Mopti in Sévaré on 19 October 2026 delivers a stark rebuttal to this narrative. With 72 defendants—69 of them soldiers—facing 43 cases ranging from arms trafficking to desertion and violent crimes, the courtroom exposes an institution beset by deep structural dysfunction.
Weapons in enemy hands: the scandal fueling insurgencies
Among the most damning revelations is the mishandling of military hardware. Nearly half of the cases involve the loss, theft, diversion, or trafficking of weapons, ammunition, and magazines. Behind the legal jargon lies a grim security reality: a significant portion of state-issued arms ends up in the hands of Mali’s adversaries.
In the central and northern operational zones, equipment siphoned from official stocks—whether through negligence, corruption, or active collusion—finds its way to fighters of 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 backers of terrorist groups, the Sévaré tribunal underscores a toxic supply chain thriving within military barracks and ammunition depots. The irony is bitter: Malian soldiers often fall under fire from weapons funded by their own national budget.
Desertions and abuses: a force under strain
The surge in desertion cases, identified by the military prosecutor as the second most common offence, lays bare a collapsing morale. A rising tide of unauthorised absences and post abandonments signals a breakdown in discipline, one that martial rhetoric about “sacrifice” can no longer conceal. Despite repeated calls for reintegration and ultimatums from the high command, the trend persists, thinning the ranks on the front lines.
Even more damaging are the allegations of murder, torture, kidnapping, and sexual violence levelled against soldiers. These atrocities, committed against civilians, confirm long-standing warnings from human rights organisations. By alienating local communities, such abuses sever the army’s most vital intelligence source and play directly into insurgent propaganda, which portrays militant groups as protectors against state excesses.
A judicial system on the brink
The very act of holding these trials in Mopti exposes the chronic weaknesses of Mali’s military justice system. While presented as a display of transparency, the proceedings highlight systemic delays. The prosecution cites insecurity, a shortage of magistrates, and geographical isolation to explain the infrequency of hearings. Yet this dysfunction has led to prolonged pretrial detentions, with some defendants languishing for years before facing a judge—a practice condemned by the Malian Bar Association.
A call for accountability at the highest level
For Colonel Assimi Goïta and the supreme command, the Sévaré trials must not be dismissed as a routine cleanup or a PR exercise. They represent a severe warning: no military strategy can succeed if the chain of command permits arms to leak to the enemy, if frontline discipline crumbles, and if justice operates erratically. Before demanding blind public trust, Mali’s defence apparatus must first confront its own failures and seal the gaps through which its strength is draining away.