Presidential pardon for French alleged spy accused of plotting Mali coup

"These soldiers and civilians" were said to have obtained "the help of foreign states", the minister said.Vezilier was said to have acted "on behalf of the French intelligence service, which mobilised political leaders, civil society actors and military personnel" in Mali, according to the minister. Political tension and the security crisis have worsened in Mali.In April the country's defence minister was killed in an apparent suicide truck bombing on his residence near the capital, Bamako, during a wave of militant attacks. Goïta named himself defence minister shortly after, in an apparent attempt to consolidate his already considerable power.When the capital came under siege by Islamist fighters, they managed to impose a partial blockade there and total blockades elsewhere including the city of Ségou.Last May, the junta dissolved all political parties following rare anti-government protests, which former Prime Minister Moussa Mara described as a severe blow to reconciliation efforts initiated by the military leaders.Goïta had promised elections within two years of seizing power, but these have never been held.Last July, the transition period was extended by five years, clearing him to continue leading the country until at least 2030.