Malian junta sacks civilian PM and his government
Mali's junta chief has sacked civilian Prime Minister Choguel Kokalla Maiga and the government, days after Maiga issued a rare criticism of the military rulers.
The West African country, plagued by jihadist and separatist violence, has been led by the military since back-to-back coups in 2020 and 2021.
Maiga, who was appointed by the military after the second coup, had been seen as isolated in his position as prime minister, with little room for manoeuvre.
His dismissal on Wednesday creates further uncertainty in an already troubled context.
"The duties of the prime minister and the members of the government are terminated," according to a decree issued by Colonel Assimi Goita that was read out by the secretary general of the presidency, Alfousseyni Diawara, on state television ORTM.
Some key junta figures such as Defence Minister General Sadio Camara and Minister of Reconciliation General Ismael Wague are members of the government.
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Elections promised
In June 2022, the junta promised to organise elections and hand over power to civilians by the end of March 2024, but later postponed elections indefinitely.
Maiga on Saturday publicly condemned the lack of clarity regarding the end of the transition to civilian rule.
He said the confusion could pose "serious challenges and the risk of going backwards".
Read more on RFI English
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