{{Short description|Malian military officer (born 1977)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Modibo Koné | office = Director of the National Security Agency | term_start = 11 June 2021 | term_end = | party = National Committee for the Salvation of the People (2020–2024) | office1 = Minister of Security and Civil Protectionn | term_start1 = 5 October 2020 | term_end1 = 24 May 2021 | birth_date = {{birth year|1977}} | birth_place = Bamako, Mali | death_date = | death_place = | rank = General | battles = Mali War * Battle of Konna * 2020 Malian coup d'état * 2021 Malian coup d'état * 2026 Mali attacks{{WIA}}<ref name="Ouestin1" /><ref name="Guardian1">{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/27/mali-attacks-insurgents-seize-towns-kill-defence-minister |title=Mali in turmoil after insurgents seize towns and kill defence minister |work=The Guardian}}</ref> }}
'''Modibo Koné''' (born 1977) is a Malian politician and military officer who served as the director of National Security Agency since 2021. He was a prominent figure in the National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP), which came to power in the 2021 Malian coup d'état. Koné is known for being one of the five main figures of the CNSP. He was seriously injured during the 2026 Mali attacks.
== Biography ==
Koné was born in Bamako, Mali in 1977.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |title=Faites connaissances avec les nouveaux ministres de la transition du Mali (suite) |url=https://www.afribone.com/faites-connaissances-avec-les-nouveaux-ministres-de-la-transition-du-mali-suite/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20210527071702/https://www.afribone.com/faites-connaissances-avec-les-nouveaux-ministres-de-la-transition-du-mali-suite/ |archive-date=27 May 2021 |access-date=27 April 2026 |work=Afribone |language=fr-FR}}</ref> He was a graduate of the Kati Combined Arms Military School. After Kati, he continued his training at the Koulikoro Combined Arms Military School, and took training courses in China.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=The junta haggles on transition |url=https://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/13063/the-junta-haggles-on-transition |access-date=27 April 2026 |website=www.africa-confidential.com |language=en}}</ref> After completing his training, Koné served in the Malian National Guard, where he fought against rebel groups. He was known to have been stationed in Konna at the start of the Mali War, and likely participated in the Battle of Konna.<ref name=":1" /> In October 2024, he was promoted to general.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 2024 |title=Promotion aux grades de général de corps d’armée et de division |url=https://koulouba.ml/promotion-aux-grades-de-general-de-corps-darmee-et-de-division-les-recipiendaires-recoivent-leurs-attributs-des-mains-du-president-de-la-transition-2/ |access-date=26 April 2026 |website=Koulouba}}</ref>
Koné participated in the 2020 Malian coup d'état as part of the National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP) as the third vice-president, behind Assimi Goïta and Bah Ndaw respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Diallo |first=Aïssatou |date=7 September 2020 |title=Mali: Who’s who in the Bamako coup |url=https://www.theafricareport.com/40680/mali-whos-who-in-the-bamako-coup/ |access-date=27 April 2026 |website=The Africa Report |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Mali coup chief names new cabinet with army officers in key posts |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/6/11/malis-military-return-to-key-posts-as-new-govt-is-sworn-in |access-date=27 April 2026 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref> According to Jeune Afrique, sources close to Kone said that he was the mastermind behind the 2020 coup.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mali : le colonel Modibo Koné, les yeux et les oreilles de la junte |url=https://www.jeuneafrique.com/1377307/politique/mali-le-colonel-modibo-kone-les-yeux-et-les-oreilles-de-la-junte/ |access-date=2026-04-29 |website=JeuneAfrique.com |language=fr-FR}}</ref> In October 2020, Koné was appointed Minister of Security and Civil Protection in the transitional government of Moctar Ouane.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mali : la Cedeao lève les sanctions après la nomination du gouvernement de transition |url=https://www.jeuneafrique.com/1054128/politique/mali-des-militaires-a-des-postes-cles-dans-le-gouvernement-de-transition/ |access-date=27 April 2026 |website=JeuneAfrique.com |language=fr-FR}}</ref> In May 2021, both Koné and Defense Minister Sadio Camara were exiled from the new cabinet proposed by Ouane. Koné and Camara plotted alongside Goita to overthrow Ndaw, which was carried out that month.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=[Mali, un an de crise] Bah N’Daw et Assimi Goïta : comment la transition a basculé |url=https://www.jeuneafrique.com/1177719/politique/bah-ndaw-et-assimi-goita-comment-la-transition-malienne-a-bascule/ |access-date=27 April 2026 |website=JeuneAfrique.com |language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Mali : Bah N’Daw démissionne, Assimi Goïta devient président |url=https://www.jeuneafrique.com/1178330/politique/mali-bah-ndaw-demissionne-assimi-goita-devient-president/ |access-date=27 April 2026 |website=JeuneAfrique.com |language=fr-FR}}</ref>
Koné was one of the five main figures in the CNSP after the 2021 coup, alongside Camara, Goita, Malick Diaw, and Ismaël Wagué.<ref name=":1" /> At the time of the coup, he was a colonel.<ref name=":1" /> In October 2021, Koné was appointed head of the National State Security Agency (ANSE), the Malian intelligence services.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chahali |first=Evarist |title=Profile of a Spymaster: Modibo Koné, Head of Malian Intelligence Agency ANSE |url=https://www.ujasusi.com/p/profile-of-a-spymaster-modibo-kone |access-date=27 April 2026 |website=Ujasusi|language=en}}</ref> In December 2025, an investigation published by Jeune Afrique showed a Malian government purchase of Turkish Bayraktar drones being signed off on by Koné's ANSE, an unusual occurrence as Camara's Defense Ministry was the traditional purchaser of foreign arms.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Drones turcs au Mali : ce que révèle le contrat secret conclu entre Baykar et Bamako |url=https://www.jeuneafrique.com/1748882/politique/drones-turcs-au-mali-ce-que-revele-le-contrat-secret-conclu-entre-baykar-et-bamako/ |access-date=27 April 2026 |website=JeuneAfrique.com |language=fr-FR}}</ref>
During the 2026 Mali attacks, Koné and Army Chief of Staff Oumar Diarra were severely injured after being shot in the chest in fighting at Kati amidst an attack by Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) forces.<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 April 2026 |title=Attacks in Mali: What we know |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20260426-attacks-in-mali-what-we-know |access-date=27 April 2026 |website=France 24 |language=en}}</ref> Koné reportedly died of his wounds on 26 April 2026.<ref>{{cite news |last=Egbejule |first=Eromo |date=27 April 2026 |title=Mali in turmoil after insurgents seize towns and kill defence minister |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/27/mali-attacks-insurgents-seize-towns-kill-defence-minister |access-date=27 April 2026 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref name=Ouestin1>{{cite web |title=Attaques armées au Mali: général Modibo Koné, patron du renseignement malien, serait décédé |url=https://ouestin.com/actualite/2026/04/26/attaques-armees-au-mali-general-modibo-kone-patron-du-renseignement-malien-serait-decede/ |work=Ouestin |language=French |date=26 April 2026}}</ref> However, on 28 April, Serge Daniel of RFI reported that Kone was still alive, but his condition was rapidly deteriorating.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-04-28 |title=Mali: des détonations entendues à Bamako, la ville de Kidal toujours aux mains du Jnim |url=https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20260428-mali-des-d%C3%A9tonations-entendues-%C3%A0-bamako-la-ville-de-kidal-toujours-aux-mains-du-jnim |access-date=2026-04-28 |website=RFI |language=fr}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
Category:1977 births Category:Living people Category:Government ministers of Mali Category:Malian military personnel Category:21st-century military personnel