Abidine Guindo
Abidine Guindo | |
|---|---|
| Born | Mopti Region, Mali |
| Occupation | Military officer |
| Years active | 1975–2018 |
| Known for | Commander of the 33rd Parachute Commando Regiment; led counter-coup attempt in April 2012 |
Abidine Guindo is a colonel from Mali who formerly commanded the 33rd Parachute Commando Regiment. In April 2012, he led an unsuccessful counter-coup attempt against Amadou Haya Sanogo.
Biography
Originating from the Mopti Region, Guindo enlisted in the 33rd Parachute Commando Regiment in 1975. Early in his military path, he became acquainted with Amadou Toumani Touré (ATT) and established himself as one of ATT's reliable confidants. He participated as a paratrooper in the arrest of Moussa Traoré during the 1991 Malian coup d'état, an event that reinstated multi-party governance. Throughout the 1990s, Guindo acted as the military deputy to ATT.
After ATT secured the presidency in 2002, Guindo was appointed commander of the 33rd Regiment. During the 2012 Mali War, he engaged Tuareg insurgents in northern regions but subsequently withdrew southward. Guindo was involved in the 2012 Malian coup d'état that removed ATT from power and brought Amadou Haya Sanogo to leadership. Reports differ regarding his involvement; some suggest he aided ATT's safe exit, while others indicate he counseled surrender to the mutineers.
In April 2012, upon being called by Sanogo to the Soundiata-Keita military camp in Kati, Guindo placed the 33rd Regiment on high alert due to concerns for his personal security. He initiated a counter-coup on April 30, which collapsed by the following day. Subsequently, Guindo went into hiding before his capture on July 11, 2012. He was freed on November 9, 2013, amid efforts to reconcile opposing groups. On February 20, 2018, charges were brought against him for "undermining internal security and illegal use of weapons" linked to the counter-coup.
Guindo's son Aidine, holding the rank of lieutenant in the Malian Army, was killed during a jihadist assault in November 2017 near Niafunké. His adopted son Boubacar Mamadou Guindo, a sergeant, died by suicide in March 2019.