the junta dismisses the government and the prime minister

The junta in power in Mali dismissed civilian Prime Minister Choguel Kokalla Maïga and the government on Wednesday after criticism from Mr. Maïga against military power, indicates a decree read on state television.

Mr. Maïga, appointed to his post by the military in 2021 following a second coup d'état in a year, was seen as isolated, with limited capacity for action vis-à-vis the military. His dismissal, however, creates additional uncertainty in an already troubled context. “The functions of the Prime Minister and members of the government are terminated”says the decree of the head of the junta, General Assimi Goïta, read by the secretary general of the presidency, Alfousseyni Diawara.

Multidimensional crisis

Mr. Maïga was dismissed four days after having publicly made rare criticisms against the junta on Saturday. He deplored being kept away from decision-making regarding the maintenance of the generals in power and mentioned “the specter of confusion and amalgamation” which, according to him, hangs over the current so-called transition period.

The junta at the head since 2020 of this country facing jihadism and a deep multidimensional crisis has failed to fulfill the commitment it had initially made under international pressure to return power to elected civilians in March 2024. No new deadline is not fixed.