Ex-Mali PM charged with embezzlement, imprisoned

Maiga

Mali’s civilian former prime minister, Choguel Kokalla Maiga, dismissed in November after he criticised the junta, was charged Tuesday with embezzlement of public funds and remanded in custody following a hearing before the country’s Supreme Court.

Plagued by jihadist and separatist violence, Mali has been led by the military since back-to-back coups in 2020 and 2021.

Maiga is accused of “embezzlement of public funds,” and his lawyer, Cheick Oumar Konare, told AFP, adding that no date has yet been set for his trial.

“We believe in justice, we are calm while awaiting the trial,” Konare said, explaining that Maiga would remain in prison.

Eight of his former colleagues from his time as prime minister had also been placed in custody, although his former chief of staff has been released while awaiting trial.

Confirming the charge of embezzlement, another judicial source told AFP that Maiga was specifically accused of “damage to public property, forgery, and use of false documents.”

Maiga was arrested one week ago, days after the junta carried out dozens of arrests to quash an alleged plot within the army’s ranks to topple the government in turn.

“Choguel Maiga says he is calm and believes that a politician should expect anything, including prison and death,” his lawyer Konare said in a statement.

Ramped-up repression

His sacking in November 2024 appeared at the time to confirm that the army, which went back on a pledge to hand the reins back to civilians by the end of March 2024, had tightened its grip on power.

Having been named to the post following the second coup in 2021, Maiga was fired after he publicly condemned the lack of clarity over when the military would give up power in the West African country.