Mali’s President Assimi Goïta Dismisses Prime Minister Choguel Maïga Following Treason Allegations

Mali’s President, Army Corps General Assimi Goïta, has dismissed Prime Minister Choguel Maïga, according to an announcement on state television on Wednesday.

The move followed mounting calls for Maïga’s resignation by the Collective of Military Defence (CDM), a faction within the Malian military that accused the Prime Minister of high treason after openly criticising the junta.

Maïga, appointed by the military in 2021 after Mali’s second coup in a year, publicly expressed frustration during events marking the November 2023 recapture of Kidal. Speaking in military attire despite being a civilian, Maïga condemned his exclusion from key decisions, including delays in the country’s political transition.

The Transition is supposed to end on March 26, 2024, but it has been postponed indefinitely, unilaterally, without debate within the Government. Everything is happening in total secrecy, without the knowledge of the Prime Minister, Maïga said.

According to him, hope is dwindling with the resurgence of insecurity and the lack of perspective.

We were models. Today, are we not on the verge of being overtaken? There is a real risk of serious setbacks, both political and social. Practices that the Malian people openly and publicly fought against only yesterday under the old regime are resurfacing at a gallop when they are not well established today. Indeed, since the questioning of the Honour Pact sealed on May 24, 2021, things have gone from bad to worse,” he said, adding that a specter of confusion hangs over the Malian Transition.

Following his criticism, the CDM in a statement, said Maïga had not only violated the principles of loyalty but also fueled division within the executive.

For two years, a Prime Minister who was unable to effectively engage with his employers on major national issues while still in office illustrates a blatant inconsistency,” the collective said.

Other organisations echoed these criticisms, including the Alliance for the Refoundation of Mali (AREMA) and the United for Mali (UPM) movement. AREMA accused Maïga of attempting to destabilise the transition, while UPM called for a new Prime Minister capable of uniting the country.

Also, the Prime Minister’s remarks have been interpreted as a move for personal political positioning.

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