Replacement of Military Leaders Sadio Camara and Modibo Kone Following 2020 Coup

In 2021, Mali experienced a significant political upheaval as tensions escalated between the civilian transitional government and the military. Following the handover of power in September 2020, the relationship between these two factions became increasingly strained. The situation reached a critical point on May 24, 2021, when a cabinet reshuffle led to the replacement of two prominent military leaders from the 2020 coup, Sadio Camara and Modibo Kone, by President Bah N'daw's administration. This decision sparked outrage within the military ranks. Later that same day, reports emerged that three key civilian leaders—President N'daw, Prime Minister Moctar Ouane, and Defence Minister Souleymane Doucouré—were detained at a military base in Kati, just outside the capital, Bamako. The military's actions indicated a clear rejection of the civilian government's authority. On June 7, 2021, Assimi Goïta, a military commander involved in the previous coup, was sworn in as the new interim president, marking a significant shift in Mali's political landscape and raising concerns about the future of democracy in the country.