By John Ikani
Mali has appointed an interim prime minister to act in place of leader Choguel Maiga, who is resting amid media reports he had been hospitalised.
Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga who is currently the government’s spokesman is to act in place of leader Choguel Maiga, who is resting amid media reports that he had been hospitalised.
Earlier this month, Paris-based Jeune Afrique magazine reported that Choguel Maiga had suffered a stroke, citing sources close to him.
When contacted by Reuters, one of Choguel Maiga’s advisors refuted this and said he would be back to work by the next week. But the leader did not.
Mali is governed by a military junta that came to power in a 2020 coup and has promised to organise democratic elections in 2024.
Choguel Maiga has been one of the government’s loudest critics in numerous public disputes with West African neighbours and international partners who criticised its military cooperation with Russian mercenaries and repeated election delays.
Abdoulaye Maiga has also made strong public statements as government spokesman against former colonial ruler France, including telling French President Emmanual Macron in July to abandon his “neocolonial” and “condescending” attitude.
