Mali’s military leader fired prime minister Choguel Maïga, days after Maïga criticised the country’s military government.
The move was announced in a presidential decree issued by General Assimi Goita, Mali’s leader. The country has been ruled by military top officials since 2020. Two years later, in June, the government promised to return to civilian rule by March 2024. However, a date for presidential elections has not yet been set, nor has a new prime minister been announced.
Maïga, appointed by the military two years ago, accused the administration of postponing the election without informing him. He also said the confusion surrounding the end of the transition could create “serious challenges and the risk of going backwards” at a rally on Saturday.
The dismissal came a week after the government arrested one of the country’s leading politicians for criticising the military rulers of neighbouring Burkina Faso. Malian authorities also arrested eleven opposition politicians and several activists in June.
Analysts argued that the situation in the Sahel deteriorated since the military came to power promising greater security for citizens.
