Mali’s Military Junta Appoints Abdoulaye Maïga as Prime Minister, Strengthening Control over Government
Mali’s military junta has further tightened its hold on power by appointing one of its senior members, General Abdoulaye Maïga, as the new prime minister. This announcement came just a day after the dismissal of civilian Prime Minister Choguel Kokalla Maïga, who had publicly expressed concerns over the junta’s decision to postpone the presidential elections initially planned for 2024.
Choguel Maïga’s removal was formalized through a presidential decree issued by General Assimi Goïta, Mali’s interim leader, and aired on state television, ORTM. General Abdoulaye Maïga’s appointment consolidates the military’s influence over Mali’s transitional government, giving the junta control over the executive, legislative, and now, the office of the prime minister. It is worth noting that despite sharing the same surname, Choguel and Abdoulaye Maïga are not related.
Since taking power in two successive coups, first in 2020 and then again in 2021, Mali’s military leaders have delayed democratic transition plans, citing instability and security concerns. Analysts suggest that Abdoulaye Maïga’s close relationship with General Goïta played a key role in his selection. “The choice of General Maïga signals a more assertive military stance as the country approaches the prospect of elections next year,” commented Ulf Laessing, director of the Sahel Program at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Mali. “Choguel’s open criticism and potential ambition to run in the future elections may have contributed to his dismissal.”
General Abdoulaye Maïga, 43, has held several high-ranking roles within the junta, including deputy prime minister, government spokesperson, and minister of territorial administration. Known for his powerful rhetoric, he has frequently targeted France and MINUSMA, the now-terminated United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali, in his public speeches. At the United Nations General Assembly in September, he openly condemned Algerian diplomats who alleged that Malian military operations had caused civilian casualties along the Algeria-Mali border, underscoring his defiant stance on foreign criticism.
Since taking power, the junta has maintained strict controls over freedom of expression and dissent, with more than a dozen politicians and activists reportedly detained for voicing opposition to the military’s rule. General Maïga’s rise to the role of prime minister appears to signal an even stronger military grip on Mali’s government as the country faces an uncertain future regarding its promised return to civilian governance.
Observers, both within Mali and internationally, are watching closely to see how this latest shift in the transitional government will impact the junta’s stated commitment to democratic elections. As it stands, however, the military remains firmly in command of Mali’s political landscape.
