Mali prime minister dismiss after criticising military rule

The Prime Minister of Mali, Choguel Kokalla Maïga, has been removed from office after he publicly criticised the military government.

The Secretary General of the presidential office, Alfousseyni Diawara who disclosed this on Wednesday said, “The duties of the prime minister and the members of the government are terminated.”

Maïga voiced frustration over the lack of public discussion on the matter, stating he has had to rely on media coverage for updates.

It was gathered that the move came a few days after Maïga’s remarks at a rally in Bamako, when he accused the junta of unilaterally and indefinitely postponing the transition process that was initially scheduled to begin on March 26.

Military leader, Assimi Goïta had previously pledged to hold elections in February, but those plans have since been postponed "for technical reasons" without a new timeline announced.

Goïta was among the rebels who overthrew the government in 2020 and then became interim president after another coup in 2021.

He announced a 24-month transition timetable starting in March 2022 to return Mali to civilian rule.

The government has yet to announce who will replace Maïga as prime minister.