He was one of the soldiers present at the massive rally to celebrate the fall of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta and is considered one of the masterminds of the 2020 Malian coup d'état that overthrew the president. He became second in command of the Military Junta led by Assimi Goïta, interim vice president in the transition of Mali. He also played a key role in negotiations with the Economic Community of West African States to lift sanctions in October.