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Mali
General Yamoussa Camara, the Mali junta's éminence grise

Yamoussa Camara, then secretary of defence, stands with François Lecointre, commander of the European Union Training Mission in Mali (EUTM Mali) on 18 March 2013. © Oliver Lang/dpa/picture-alliance/MaxPPP

Yamoussa Camara has in less than a year become one of the most influential figures in Mali's Koulouba presidential palace. Junta leader Assimi Goïta made him his permanent secretary last year, and he advises the five putschist colonels he had under his command at a military high school in the 1990s. [...]

Published on 15/11/2022 at 06:00 GMT Reading time 4 minutes

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Politics

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Alou Boï Diarra
Amadou Haya Sanogo
Amadou Toumani Toure
Assimi Goita
Bah N'Daw
Conseil national de transition
Dioncounda Traore
Ecole normale supérieure de Bamako
Figuira
Forces armees maliennes
Ibrahim Diallo
Iyad ag Ghali
Malick Diaw
Modibo Kone
Prytanée militaire de Kati
Sadio Camara
Sécurité d'Etat
Serval
Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga
Wagner
Yamoussa Camara

Mali
Animosity grows between Goita and defence minister Camara

The solid relationship between Mali's interim leader and the colonel had been a cornerstone of the junta, but Goita's major reshuffle on 1 July has driven a wedge between the two men.

Subscribers only Politics 14.07.2023

Mali
Deputy intelligence chief Malick Dicko stealthily exerts his influence

Operating in the shadow of the powerful head of Malian intelligence Modibo Koné, Colonel Dicko is one of the essential cogs in the country's secret service and has several senior allies in the junta.

Subscribers only Politics 04.04.2023

Mali
General Harouna Samaké, the army's well-connected new boss

After serving as Mali's ambassador in Moscow, General Harouna Samaké was recalled by junta leader Assimi Goïta to head the army. He will be helped in his new job by his wide-ranging connections within the Malian armed forces.

Subscribers only Defence 14.03.2023

Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) soldiers, near Gourma in Mali.

Mali
Millionaire Aliou Boubacar Diallo enjoys quiet new life, far from the junta

After long supporting Assimi Goita's coup, the Malian millionaire, who came third in the 2018 presidential election, has fallen out with the junta leader. He has discreetly moved to Dakar, from where he hopes to reboot his political aspirations.

Subscribers only Politics 14.02.2023

President of the Democratic Alliance for Peace (ADP Maliba) Aliou Boubacar Diallo in August 2018.

Spotlight | Mali
Northern Mali: the junta's secret dealings with jihadists and local kingpins

The junta's control over turbulent northern Mali has waned, if not evaporated entirely. It has failed to impose its rule in Timbuktu and Gao, and has forged alliances with figures involved in drug trafficking and linked to jihadist movements.

Subscribers only Politics 23.12.2022

Activists of a Tuareg political-military movement in northern Mali in 2020.

Mali
Aid workers seek solution after Mali junta bans French-backed groups

European embassies and development workers are trying to map out a future for aid groups in Mali after the junta ban on non-governmental organisations backed by France.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 21.12.2022

Mali
PM Choguel Maïga's return splits Mali junta

After several months off due to health problems, Prime Minister Choguel Kokalla Maïga has gone back to work. Mali now finds itself in the unusual position of having two prime ministers, and the junta is split over which one to oust.

Subscribers only Politics 30.11.2022

The Malian Prime Minister Choguel Maïga.

In Focus | Ivory Coast, Mali
From Gao to Abidjan, Ben Moctar Maouloud, the broker who has Ouattara's ear

A low-key figure in West African presidential palaces for two decades, Ben Moctar Maouloud has become a key intermediary in Abidjan. The Malian businessman with a wealth of contacts is now involved in all major military contracts.

Subscribers only Defence, Business 31.10.2022

Ben Moctar Maouloud, the Malian businessman with a wealth of contacts, is now involved in all major military contracts and has become a key intermediary in Abidjan.

Mali, Mauritania
Bamako tries to save its good relations with Nouakchott

Mauritanian head of state Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, who, until now, has opted for dialogue with the regime in Mali, could change position following a recent border incident in which a number of Mauritanians lost their lives.

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In Focus | Mali
How regime insiders Karim Keïta and Moussa Diawara slipped through the putschists' net

Despite being Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta's leading collaborators, former intelligence chief Moussa Diawara and the deposed head of state's oldest son, Karim Keïta, have been able to slip quietly into exile. Africa Intelligence reveals their activities before and after IBK's fall from power and detail the ambiguous roles they played in the weeks leading up to the coup.

Subscribers only Politics 26.10.2020

The population cheering soldiers in Bamako after the coup of 18 August 18 2020.

Mali
Closed door negotiations under way to decide IBK's fate

After being forced to resign by part of the army on 18 August, the former Malian president could be allowed to go to the United Arab Emirates, where he has been receiving medical care for months.

Subscribers only Politics 20.08.2020

Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta still smiling during the latest G5 Sahel summit in Nouachott, 30 June.

Set up email notifications for these topics

Alou Boï Diarra
Amadou Haya Sanogo
Amadou Toumani Toure
Assimi Goita
Bah N'Daw
Conseil national de transition
Dioncounda Traore
Ecole normale supérieure de Bamako
Figuira
Forces armees maliennes
Ibrahim Diallo
Iyad ag Ghali
Malick Diaw
Modibo Kone
Prytanée militaire de Kati
Sadio Camara
Sécurité d'Etat
Serval
Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga
Wagner
Yamoussa Camara

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Mali
General Yamoussa Camara, the Mali junta's éminence grise

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Set up email notifications for these topics

Mali
Animosity grows between Goita and defence minister Camara

Mali
Deputy intelligence chief Malick Dicko stealthily exerts his influence

Mali
General Harouna Samaké, the army's well-connected new boss

Mali
Millionaire Aliou Boubacar Diallo enjoys quiet new life, far from the junta

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Aid workers seek solution after Mali junta bans French-backed groups

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PM Choguel Maïga's return splits Mali junta

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How regime insiders Karim Keïta and Moussa Diawara slipped through the putschists' net

Mali
Closed door negotiations under way to decide IBK's fate

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Africa Intelligence on social media

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About Africa Intelligence

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Indigo Publications' websites

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Mali General Yamoussa Camara, the Mali junta's éminence grise

This article may be accessed by subscribers

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create a free account

Set up email notifications for these topics

Mali Animosity grows between Goita and defence minister Camara

Mali Deputy intelligence chief Malick Dicko stealthily exerts his influence

Mali General Harouna Samaké, the army's well-connected new boss

Mali Millionaire Aliou Boubacar Diallo enjoys quiet new life, far from the junta

Spotlight | Mali Northern Mali: the junta's secret dealings with jihadists and local kingpins

Mali Aid workers seek solution after Mali junta bans French-backed groups

Mali PM Choguel Maïga's return splits Mali junta

In Focus | Ivory Coast, Mali From Gao to Abidjan, Ben Moctar Maouloud, the broker who has Ouattara's ear

Mali, Mauritania Bamako tries to save its good relations with Nouakchott

In Focus | Mali How regime insiders Karim Keïta and Moussa Diawara slipped through the putschists' net

Mali Closed door negotiations under way to decide IBK's fate

Set up email notifications for these topics

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

Senegal
Guns and oil drive Russia's Dakar courtship

Botswana, South Africa
From Gaborone to Antwerp, is De Beers's empire on the rocks?

Mali
General Yamoussa Camara, the Mali junta's éminence grise

Mali
Animosity grows between Goita and defence minister Camara

Mali
Deputy intelligence chief Malick Dicko stealthily exerts his influence

Mali
General Harouna Samaké, the army's well-connected new boss

Mali
Millionaire Aliou Boubacar Diallo enjoys quiet new life, far from the junta

Spotlight | Mali
Northern Mali: the junta's secret dealings with jihadists and local kingpins

Mali
Aid workers seek solution after Mali junta bans French-backed groups

Mali
PM Choguel Maïga's return splits Mali junta

In Focus | Ivory Coast, Mali
From Gao to Abidjan, Ben Moctar Maouloud, the broker who has Ouattara's ear

Mali, Mauritania
Bamako tries to save its good relations with Nouakchott

In Focus | Mali
How regime insiders Karim Keïta and Moussa Diawara slipped through the putschists' net

Mali
Closed door negotiations under way to decide IBK's fate