Former Malian Prime Minister Choguel Kokalla Maiga has been taken into custody, marking the latest high-profile political figure detained by the country’s military rulers.
Earlier this month, Maiga was questioned as part of an inquiry into alleged misuse of public assets. On Tuesday, authorities formally arrested him on corruption charges.
Maiga held the office of prime minister from 2021 until his removal in November 2024, shortly after he publicly criticized the junta for delaying national elections. Even after leaving office, he continued to voice opposition to the military-led government.
This follows the arrest of another ex-prime minister, Moussa Mara, on August 1. Mara faces accusations of “undermining the credibility of the state” after expressing support on social media for other critics imprisoned by the ruling military authorities.
Mali has been under military rule since a 2020 coup, followed by another power grab the next year. In June, General Assimi Goita, the country’s leader, extended his tenure by an additional five years, despite earlier promises to return governance to civilian authorities by March 2024. This extension came shortly after the junta dissolved political parties in May.
