By John Ikani
Mali’s junta leader, Assimi Goita, has dismissed civilian Prime Minister Choguel Maiga, marking the latest twist in the nation’s prolonged struggle over a return to democratic governance.
Mali’s military has held power since its 2020 coup, followed by a second coup the next year. In June 2022, the junta pledged to hand over control to civilians by March 2024, but the elections were delayed with no new timeline announced.
Maiga, appointed after the second coup, served as the civilian face of the regime, steering the country’s foreign relations away from France and toward closer ties with Russia.
Recently, Maiga began publicly criticizing the junta, raising concerns about indefinite delays in the promised transition. Addressing a rally on Saturday, he warned of “serious challenges and the risk of going backwards” under prolonged military rule, revealing that he was not consulted about the election postponement.
He said, “The transition was supposed to end on 26 March, 2024, but it has been postponed indefinitely, unilaterally, without debate within the government. This is not normal in a government.”
In a decree issued on Wednesday, Goita officially announced Maiga’s dismissal and dissolved the government, citing the termination of the prime minister’s duties.
The decision follows mounting tensions, including the recent arrest of a prominent Malian politician who criticized Burkina Faso’s military leadership, further highlighting the junta’s tightening grip on power.
