The head of the Mali Junta fired the prime minister in succession to return to civilian rule
Mali’s military leader has ousted the Prime Minister, Choguel Kokalla Maïga, and his government.
It follows Maïga’s rare criticism of the junta’s lack of clarity about the promised return to democracy.
The law read on state television by junta leader Col Assimi Goïta said the jobs of the prime minister and members of the government were “finished”.
Mali has suffered years of jihadist and separatist violence – leading to military coups in 2020 and 2021.
The junta had promised to hold elections and return power to the people in March 2024, but then postponed the vote.
The relationship between the military president and his military prime minister has been strained for a long time.
On Saturday, Maïga while talking to his fans, criticized the failure to implement this change.
“The transition was supposed to end on March 26, 2024, but it was postponed indefinitely, without a debate in the government,” he said.
“This is not normal for the government,” he added, pointing out that as prime minister, he was not informed of the junta’s decision to postpone the election.
He also emphasized the potential challenges and danger that the current confusion about the revolution could cause the country.
Before his dismissal, there were suggestions that Maïga should step down following his anger with the military leaders.
A group that supports the military, the Collective for the Defense of the Military, on Sunday called on him to resign within 72 hours, describing his protest as a betrayal.
But his dismissal comes as a surprise given the signs of disunity in the ruling party for months.
In June, Maïga publicly approved the document of one of his supporters who had been arrested last month for criticizing the military’s long stay in power.
Maïga was appointed prime minister in 2021 by the junta leader, following the second coup of the revolutionary president Bah N’Daw.
The 66-year-old man has served as a minister for several terms and ran for president three times.
His departure from government fueled doubts about the progress of the revolution, and his future.
There are speculations that he may evolve into an opposition party that may challenge his former boss for the country’s top post, whenever elections are held.
There was disagreement in the area and the regions after his dismissal, with supporters saying that he is not aiming for the position of president while others see him as a traitor.
The junta enjoyed popular support when it took power three years ago.
Mass protests against former President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta followed, amid complaints of corruption, economic uncertainty and insecurity.
The ruling party has however struggled to curb jihadist violence – and there is growing anger from large sections of the population against the interim government.
Additional reporting by Nicolas Negoce
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