Mali's Junta appoints General Abdoulaye Maiga as prime minister

Mali’s junta appointed General Abdoulaye Maiga as the new prime minister, just a day after dismissing civilian leader Choguel Kokalla Maiga following his criticism of the military.

Abdoulaye Maiga, who had previously served as the government’s spokesman, takes on the role amid ongoing jihadist and separatist violence in the West African nation.

The country has been under military control since consecutive coups in 2020 and 2021.

“Major General Abdoulaye Maiga is appointed prime minister,” AFP quoted a decree issued by junta chief General Assimi Goita and read out by the secretary general of the presidency on state television station ORTM.

Abdoulaye Maiga was not part of the initial group of colonels who overthrew the civilian president in August 2020 and later became generals, but he quickly aligned with them.

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His appointment to replace civilian prime minister Choguel Kokalla Maiga further solidifies the military’s grip on power.

Kokalla Maiga had publicly criticized the lack of clarity surrounding the timeline for the transition to civilian rule.

While the junta had promised in June 2022 to hold elections and transfer power to civilians by March 2024, they later indefinitely postponed the elections.

With inputs from agencies