A representative of the junta said the man had worked “on behalf of the French intelligence service, which mobilized political leaders, civil society actors and military personnel” to foment a coup.

The authorities also detained dozens of soldiers and accused ‘foreign states’ of trying to destabilise the country.

Following days of speculation about the alleged coup plot, Gen Mohammedine confirmed that "fringe elements of the Malian armed security forces" had been detained for seeking to "destabilise the institutions of the republic". "These soldiers and civilians" were said to have obtained "the help of foreign states", the minister said.