The Malian transitional authorities have long touted the growing strength of the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) and their sovereign control over the territory. Yet the opening of the Military Tribunal of Mopti’s session in Sévaré on October 19, 2026, delivers a sharp rebuke to this narrative. With 72 defendants—69 of them military personnel—facing 43 cases ranging from arms trafficking to desertion and violent crimes, the courtroom exposes an institution deeply undermined by structural dysfunction.

The alarming flow of state weapons into enemy hands

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 the state-issued arsenal ends up directly 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 complicity—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 condemns alleged external support for terrorist groups, the Sévaré tribunal reveals a toxic supply chain thriving within military barracks and ammunition depots. It’s a vicious cycle: Malian soldiers’ blood is too often spilled by weapons funded by the national budget.

Desertions and abuses: a force under strain

The surge in desertion cases, identified by the military prosecutor as the second most prevalent offense, signals a deeper crisis. The growing number of abandonments and unauthorized departures reflects moral exhaustion and a breakdown of discipline—rhetoric about “sacrifice” now rings hollow. Despite repeated calls for reintegration and ultimatums from the high command, the trend persists, thinning the ranks on the ground.

Even more damaging are the allegations of murder, torture, kidnapping, and sexual violence attributed to soldiers. These atrocities against civilians validate the warnings long issued by human rights organizations. By alienating local populations, such misconduct severs the army’s most vital intelligence source and fuels insurgent propaganda, which portrays itself as a bulwark against state abuse.

A judicial system struggling to keep pace

The Military Tribunal’s proceedings in Mopti, framed as an act of transparency, 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 infrequency of hearings. However, this neglect results in prolonged pretrial detentions, condemned by the Malian Bar Association, with some defendants languishing in prison for years before facing a judge.

A call for leadership and 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 frontline discipline crumbles, and if justice operates inconsistently. Before demanding blind trust from the population, Mali’s defense apparatus must first address its own failures and seal the gaps draining its strength.

By Boureima Amadou — Journalist