Mali’s Junta Replaces Civilian Prime Minister With One of Its Own

The ruling junta of Mali appointed its spokesman as the country’s new prime minister on Thursday, after his civilian predecessor was fired for criticizing the administration.

The spokesman, Col. Abdoulaye Maiga, replaced former Prime Minister Choguel Maiga — the two are not direct relatives — after Choguel Maiga told reporters that the junta was making decisions about the postponement of elections in “total secrecy.” He condemned the administration for failing to transition the country back to democracy within two years, as it had promised after seizing power in 2020.

Choguel Maiga, who had served as prime minister since 2021, had consistently defended the junta before his comments, even as Mali’s neighbors and former Western partners criticized it for delaying elections and working with Russia.

On state television, the new prime minister and the president, Gen. Assimi Goita, said that key ministries would remain under the same leadership. The influential cabinet members include Abdoulaye Diop, a veteran diplomat and former ambassador to the United States in the 2000s, and Defense Minister Sadio Camara, who has played a major role in strengthening relationships with Russia.

Colonel Maiga — an expert in international affairs and good governance who has a doctorate, according to his résumé — represented Mali at the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September, and at the U.N. climate conference known as COP29 in Azerbaijan this month.

The appointment of a military man to a position previously held by a civilian fuels uncertainty over Mali’s presidential election, which was scheduled for February but has been indefinitely postponed. The military cited “technical reasons” for the delay but did not provide additional details. Whether General Goita will run in that election, if it takes place, to retain power remains unclear.