Profile of a Spymaster: Modibo Koné, Head of Malian Intelligence Agency ANSE

Who Is Modibo Koné, Mali's Most Powerful Intelligence Officer?

Colonel Modibo Koné, Mali's top intelligence official and Director-General of the Agence nationale de la sécurité de l'État (ANSE), is a name that increasingly dominates conversations around Mali's national security, military intelligence, and political power. As the leading figure in the country's intelligence establishment, Koné plays a pivotal role in shaping Mali's post-coup governance, counterterrorism strategies, and foreign alliances. His influence stretches far beyond Bamako, making him one of the most consequential intelligence chiefs in West Africa and the Sahel region. In this in-depth profile, we explore Modibo Koné's background, military career, rise to power, role in Mali's intelligence architecture, and his impact on regional security dynamics.